‘What’s the use?’ – Van Dijk’s reaction after yet another harsh VAR call
Some moments don’t need words — and Virgil van Dijk’s quiet reaction after Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City summed up the team’s current state perfectly.
Speaking to The Independent after the match, the Liverpool captain opted for composure rather than criticism when asked about yet another controversial refereeing decision that went against his side.
“In football, the officials make the key decisions, and we just have to deal with them on the pitch,” he said.
“There’s no point in discussing it from my point of view. The fact is, we lost 3-0, and that’s a tough one to take.”
He added: “It doesn’t matter what I say [about the goal] — anything I say will be turned into headlines, and the whole international break will revolve around my comments on the decision. I just focus on the loss. You guys can debate whether the goal should’ve stood.”
Van Dijk stays composed amid growing frustration
Van Dijk’s remarks followed Arne Slot’s stronger words, as the Liverpool boss criticised what he described as a “clear” officiating error and pointed to referee Chris Kavanagh’s history of questionable calls against the Reds.
The controversy arose when Van Dijk thought he had equalised at 1-1, only for the goal to be ruled out because Andy Robertson was adjudged to have obstructed Gianluigi Donnarumma — a decision many felt was unjustified.
Liverpool’s patience wearing thin
Although Van Dijk’s measured comments reflected his leadership, they also hinted at a squad weary of repeated refereeing controversies. Liverpool have suffered several major calls going against them this season, and the captain’s refusal to fan the flames seems like an effort to keep the focus on performance rather than officiating.
Despite the frustration over the disallowed goal, the reality remains that Liverpool were second-best at the Etihad — and both Van Dijk and Slot know that improvement is urgently needed.
