‘If not for the dumb errors, the scoreline may have changed’: Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk blasts Arsenal fans for celebrating Liverpool’s loss as if they had already won the league trophy.

Virgil van Dijk has acknowledged his role in the sequence of errors leading to Arsenal’s second goal during their 3-1 victory over Liverpool on Sunday. Despite Liverpool’s recovery in the early stages of the second half, a pivotal moment occurred with 25 minutes remaining when a long ball to Gabriel Martinelli resulted in an unexpected bounce that caught both Van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson off guard. The failure to clear the ball allowed Martinelli to score into an empty net.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Van Dijk took full responsibility for the incident, emphasizing its significance in the match. Despite Liverpool’s strong performance in the second half, the atmosphere became tense after the blunder. Van Dijk recognized the turning point as his responsibility and expressed his commitment to avoiding a recurrence.

Acknowledging the physical nature of the game, Van Dijk refrained from seeking excuses, noting the divided decisions that can occur at the highest level. He pointed out the brief contact with Alisson, affecting the clearance attempt, but emphasized accepting full responsibility and pledged to learn from the experience.

Van Dijk also acknowledged the challenging nature of visiting the Emirates Stadium for any team in the league, referencing the strain Liverpool faced in a previous FA Cup encounter at the venue.