After Liverpool were beaten by Arsenal at Anfield, Virgil van Dijk let his feelings about the game's officiating be known
Virgil van Dijk speaking in an interview
Virgil van Dijk did not hold back in his assessment of the referees(Image: X/Sky Sports Premier League)
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Virgil van Dijk hit out at VAR in a prickly post-match interview after Liverpool's defeat to Arsenal. The Premier League champions overcame the Reds 1-0, courtesy of Kai Havertz's first half goal
Andoni Iraola's side were left furious when they saw two first half penalty shouts be waved away by both referee Andy Madley and VAR. The most controversial call came when Jurrien Timber grabbed Alexander Isak by his shirt while the £125m man was trying to get on the end of a dangerous cross from Bradley Barcola.
Gary Neville believed it was a penalty and was left aghast when Isak did not even shout or protest the decision. After the match, Van Dijk blasted the officials operating VAR.
When the incident was put to Van Dijk, he told Sky Sports: "It was a clear penalty on Isak. It’s a penalty but today it wasn’t meant to be.”
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The reporter then asked if Isak should have protested the decision to alert the referee about the incident, Van Dijk hit back with some questions of his own, asking: "VAR doesn’t notice it?
"There are 50 cameras. Why does he have to complain when there’s so many cameras? Everyone has seen it. At the end of the day, it wasn’t given so congratulations to Arsenal.”
Alexander Isak of Liverpool headers the ball as Jurrien Timber of Arsenal pulls his shirt during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on November 01, 2026 in Liverpool, England
Isak was pulled back by Timber as he looked to get on the end of a cross(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was equally furious about the decision, saying VAR did not do what it was brought in to do. He said: "One of the best goalscorers in the league is pulled back seven yards out and it stops him heading the ball - why does he need to make a meal of it? VAR do your job."
Iraola also used his post-match media duties to event about some of the key decisions, saying the striker may have needed to dive to get the call. The Reds boss said: "There is a clear grab [of] the shirt.
"Alex [Isak] was just in front of him, he was going to head in front of the goal but couldn't because he had the shirt. I don't understand why they didn't call it, probably because he has not gone to the floor.
Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool, gestures from the touchline during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on November 01, 2026 in Liverpool, England
Iraola spent much of the match protesting the decisions which went against his team(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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"I think the Gakpo one was not a penalty but the Alex one he was going to head the ball in front of the goalkeeper.
"He grabbed the shirt. I don't understand why it wasn't called. You have to dive, if you don't dive they won't call it. That's the problem we have with the game. Because he doesn't dive and go to the floor.
"The fact that you are even asking me if he should go to the floor, if he goes to the floor, they call the penalty 100 percent."
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