“That’s what happened”- Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk gives his take on Ruben Dias’ disallowed goal for Man City

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk shares opinion on Ruben Dias’ disallowed goal

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk didn’t mince his words when discussing the contentious incident involving Ruben Dias’ 68th-minute disallowed goal in the recent 1-1 draw against Manchester City. In his candid interview with Match of the Day, Van Dijk unequivocally labelled the play as a foul, leaving little room for interpretation.

The incident in question saw VAR intervene, attributing the disallowed goal to a foul on Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Alisson. Manuel Akanji’s hand on Alisson’s shoulder as he went down triggered the decision, with VAR ruling out the goal. Van Dijk, true to his defensive instincts, asserted that the infringement was evident. He also emphasises the fundamental rule that goalkeepers cannot be fouled in such situations.

While the VAR decision went in Liverpool’s favour, it becomes important for Liverpool to acknowledge that Alisson could have handled the situation better. The Brazilian international, despite escaping the potential fallout from the contentious goal, had a challenging game overall.

Here is what VVD told BBC:

“It’s a foul. There is not mnuch to say about it. It’s pretty clear can’t foul the goalkeeper and that’s what happened.”

In a rare moment of vulnerability for Alisson, the acknowledgement of his less-than-ideal performance underscores the balanced perspective that Liverpool fans often maintain.

Well-Fought point

Alisson, more often than not, has been absolutely flawless for the Reds ever since making the move from Roma, and this one game surely doesn’t define how professional and thorough he has been throughout his time with Liverpool.

The match against Manchester City was undoubtedly a challenging encounter, and the VAR decisions only added to the drama. Would have been great to win and head into the next week on top of the table, but it is what it is.

As Liverpool fans rally behind their team, Van Dijk’s comments offer a candid insight into the players’ perspective on pivotal moments in the game.

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The acknowledgement of both sides—supporting Liverpool’s claim for a foul while acknowledging room for improvement—underscores the professionalism and integrity that Van Dijk brings to the discussion.