Liverpool suffered cruel 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening, with Amine Adli scoring the winner with the last kick of the ball as Virgil van Dijk was left appealing
Virgil van Dijk stands with his arms out
Virgil van Dijk was unimpressed with the decision(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Dermot Gallagher claims that Michael Salisbury was right to allow Amine Adli's last-minute winner for Bournemouth against Liverpool to stand, despite on-field appeals from Virgil van Dijk. The Reds travelled to the Vitality Stadium with hopes of securing all three points on Saturday evening.
However, Arne Slot and his squad were left to make the long trip back to Merseyside empty-handed, after suffering a cruel 3-2 loss on the south coast. Evanilson opened the scoring for the Cherries 26 minutes into the game, before Alex Jiminez doubled the hosts' lead moments later.
While Van Dijk ate into the deficit on the stroke of half-time with a lopping header off the back of Dominik Szoboszlai's pinpoint corner, an uphill battle remained in the second period. Szoboszlai drew level with 10 minutes of normal time left to play with a well worked free-kick, before Liverpool pushed on for a winner.
Fate had other plans at the Vitality however, with Adli scoring with the last kick of the game to ensure Liverpool left with nothing. James Hill launched a long throw into the Reds' area in the game's dying embers, with Marcos Senesi scrambling to get on the end of it.
The ball then bundled to Adli at the near post, as he placed it with precision past a floundering Alison before wheeling away in celebration. Van Dijk was spotted appealing the goal in the aftermath, however, seen speaking to Salisbury with a stern look painting his face.
While replays of the incident seemed to show Van Dijk being nudged by Adli in the process, retired referee Gallagher claims that the only foul he saw on the centre-half came from Curtis Jones - who was battling Adli from behind. Speaking on Sky Sports, Gallagher said: "Van Dijk was fouled by his own player. He is definitely fouled but by Curtis Jones. The referee was correct to allow the goal to stand."
Jay Bothroyd, meanwhile, added: "Even if Van Dijk was nudged by the Bournemouth player, he has got to be stronger. He is clutching at straws."
Virgil van Dijk appeals to Michael Salisbury
Virgil van Dijk appealed to Michael Salisbury(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
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It comes as Van Dijk explained his thought process to the media at full-time, feeling hard done by through Salisbury's decision. He said: "What I felt on that pitch was that I was clearly blocked, but obviously the ref and then the VAR don't give it. That's something we then have to accept."
Elsewhere, the Liverpool captain also shared his disappointment with the clash. He added: "Very disappointed. Last minute of the game, very tough to take.
"But like you said, we worked very hard second-half especially to get back in the game and obviously, at times, we were open as well, obviously on the counter because we're trying to push for the winner. To concede that late is very disappointing."
As a result of the loss, Liverpool sit sixth in the Premier League standings. Up next for the team is a Champions League match with Qarabag on Wednesday evening, before they play host to Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.
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