Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk responds to the “arrogant” remark made at him by Roy Keane
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk refuted the arrogance claim made at him by Roy Keane after the Northwest derby. The Reds drew 0-0 in a frustrating Premier League clash against their historic rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool dominated United throughout the game, enjoying 69% of the possession while taking 34 shots with just eight on-target. Their Manchester rivals went into the game with the full intention of parking the bus and grabbing a draw.
United lost 7-0 to the Reds at Anfield last season despite being the one in good form while Liverpool faced struggle. As the roles have reversed this season in terms of the team’s form, many expected another humiliation on the cards.
However, Liverpool lacked incision and creativity in the attacking third, resorting to shots that lacked composure and conviction. Van Dijk voiced his frustration in the post-match interview while claiming that only one team played to win the game.
The 32-year-old’s comment received backlash from Keane, who deemed them to be arrogant and a diss towards his former club. The former United captain further added:
“Dissing United. He is playing for a club who have won one title in 30 years and he’s saying only one team wanted to win, and United are buzzing with a point?”
Responding to the comments made by Keane (h/t ESPN), Van Dijk took a calm approach while understanding where the Irishman’s loyalty lies. He said:
“I like Roy Keane, if he said that then it’s fine. He is Man United throughout and I understand he could react like that, but I felt what I said and there is absolutely no arrogance in that. Everyone who watched the game probably felt the same. We move on. We had the opportunity and we couldn’t score and that’s the frustrating part.”
Keane’s comments exhibit insecurities as United, in the midst of a nightmare season, find themselves reduced to fighting for draws. The former United captain has conveniently forgotten that his club’s long history includes several trophy draughts.
"There was only one team I think that were trying to win the game"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 17, 2023
Virgil van Dijk is frustrated after their draw at Anfield pic.twitter.com/SZtIau0P88
United had 41 years of League title draught in their history, currently going through another with 10 years and counting. Despite spending years at United under the dominance of Sir Alex Ferguson, Keane only managed one Champions League win. Keane should consider himself fortunate for winning titles during an era when Manchester City and Chelsea didn’t possess their current financial dominance.
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Van Dijk’s handling of the unnecessary remark from Keane is commendable considering the relatively fresh frustration of the draw. Liverpool needs to move on from this small hiccup as time is a luxury during the congested fixtures period. They face West Ham in the EFL Cup next and then host the league-leaders Arsenal in the Premier League showdown
