Virgil van Dijk has accepted complete responsibility for the unfortunate mistake involving him and Alisson Becker in Liverpool’s loss to Arsenal.
On Sunday evening, Arsenal secured a 3-1 victory, narrowing Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to two points.
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Following Bukayo Saka’s goal, Arsenal conceded an equalizer just before half-time with an own goal from Gabriel, resulting from a mix-up between William Saliba and David Raya.
However, Arsenal regained the lead in the second half, capitalizing on errors from Alisson and van Dijk.
Van Dijk allowed a ball to bounce, trying to block Gabriel Martinelli, who found space between the defenders and Alisson, tapping home into an empty net.
Club captain van Dijk told Sky Sports the moment ‘hurt’, conceding he made the wrong decision not to immediately clear the ball.
‘It was a tough day,’ he said. ‘The [goal for] 2-1, I take full responsibility for that, I should be have done better and made a better decision and it hurts. Especially for me but the rest of the team. It was a big turning point.
‘We were having opportunities, we were dominant, the atmosphere [at the Emirates] was a bit nervous.
‘We were dominant in the second half until that turning point. I should just try clear it but I made the wrong the decision, These things don’t happen too often but I will recover and I will take responsibility.
‘I’m not looking for excuses. It’s split second decisions you make, I chose to let the ball bounce and put my body in the way. Things happen. But I will try to make sure it never happens again.’
Former Liverpool defender labelled the incident ‘schoolboy stuff’ from the club.
‘Van Dijk has just got to header it, don’t let it bounce,’ Carragher said. It is schoolboy stuff.
‘Yes, he [Martinelli] nudges him into the goalkeeper which puts Alisson off but Martintelli is well in his right to do that.
‘This is something you learn at the bottom level. Just deal with it. They have been fantastic for Liverpool but that was a howler.’
