Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk hit out at VAR after the Reds were denied two penalty claims in their 1-0 Premier League defeat to Arsenal
Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk did not hold back in his post-match interview
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Virgil van Dijk launched a stinging attack on VAR in a tetchy post-match interview following Liverpool's defeat to Arsenal. The Premier League champions edged out the Reds 1-0, thanks to Kai Havertz's first-half strike.
Andoni Iraola's side were left incensed after watching two first-half penalty appeals dismissed by both referee Andy Madley and VAR. The most contentious decision came when Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak by his shirt as the £125million forward attempted to meet a threatening cross from Bradley Barcola.
Gary Neville was convinced it was a penalty and was visibly stunned when Isak failed to appeal or remonstrate with the officials. Following the final whistle, Van Dijk turned his frustration towards those operating VAR.
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When the incident was raised with 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."
When the reporter suggested Isak ought to have made more of a fuss to draw the referee's attention to the incident, Van Dijk fired back with a series of pointed questions, asking: "VAR doesn't notice it?".
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"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."
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was equally incensed by the ruling, arguing that VAR had failed to fulfil its fundamental purpose.
He said: "One of the best goal scorers 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."
Jurrien Timber can be seen clearly pulling the shirt of Alexander Isak in Liverpool's loss to Arsenal
Jurrien Timber can be seen clearly pulling the shirt of Alexander Isak in Liverpool's loss to Arsenal
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Iraola also used his post-match press conference to vent his frustration over several key calls, suggesting the striker may have needed to go to ground to earn the decision. The Reds boss said: "There is a clear grab [of] the shirt.
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"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.
"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."
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2: Liverpool FC Head Coach Andoni Iraola concentrates after the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field on August 2, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Liverpool's new head coach Andoni Iraola, pictured on the club's tour of the US(Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)