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Tag: Van Dijk

  • Liverpool coach, Arne Slot fires back at Michael Owen

    Liverpool coach, Arne Slot fires back at Michael Owen

    Liverpool manager Arne Slot has taken shots at former striker Michael Owen after his recent comments regarding Virgil van Dijk.

    Speaking to Van Dijk, 33, after the 1-0 Premier League win over local rivals Everton, Owen raised the cup defeats to Newcastle and PSG, asking about the disappointment after feeling as though the season was “building into something really special”.

    The centre-back didn’t seem to agree with Owen’s point of view, responding: “So you’re suggesting the season is not going to be special anymore?”

    Arne Slot has now weighed in on the situation.

    He said: “Let me understand it right, Virgil was a bit frustrated because it came across as it’s not enough to ‘only’ win the Premier League? Michael (Owen) played for us, didn’t he? So he is aware of the fact that in 35 years we won the league once?

    “There is your answer. If you can win the league with this club then, phew, nothing else matters. If you do it 10 times in a row then I could understand that people say, ‘Oh but you only win the Premier League’.

    “At this club, you can compete for it and let alone win it, then it is a strange question to ask in my opinion. If Virgil has this opinion as well then I agree with him. I follow the Dutch media a bit more than the media here and… no, let’s leave it!”

  • Euro 2024: Van der Vaart hits out at Van Dijk

    Euro 2024: Van der Vaart hits out at Van Dijk

    Former Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart hit out at fellow Dutchman Virgil van Dijk.

    The ex-Real Madrid attacking midfielder was less than impressed by the Dutch team at Euro 2024.

    Despite getting four points from their first two games, the Netherlands are only qualifying for the round of 16 as one of the better third placed finishers, as they lost to Austria on Tuesday.

    “We played the way Virgil van Dijk just talked!” Van Der Vaart on Dutch TV channel NOS.

    “We just had to watch a disgraceful performance! I want the captain from our country to show some PASSION!”

  • Van Dijk scares strikers – Arsenal defender, Saliba

    Van Dijk scares strikers – Arsenal defender, Saliba

    Arsenal defender William Saliba is full of praise for Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.

    Saliba says the Dutchman sets the standard for centre-halves.

    Speaking from the France camp, he said: “Van Dijk has aura.

    “He’s the boss. He commands everything. You can feel he’s scaring strikers away. And I’m starting to feel the same way.”

    Saliba also stated: “I need to continue to work to go even higher. In terms of concentration, I am a lot better. Before, I could play a top match but in one phase of play, I slept a bit. That is no longer the case. I am always on alert.”

  • You’re so wrong about Van Dijk – Klopp

    You’re so wrong about Van Dijk – Klopp

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has heaped praise on captain Virgil Van Dijk.

    Many fans had questioned the club for letting so much leadership leave in the summer.

    With the likes of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and others leaving in the past 12 to 18 months, Klopp has leaned on Van Dijk for leadership.

    He stated after the club won the League Cup final against Chelsea: “I love talking about my players. I really love it. Virgil van Dijk from the first day since he stepped into Liverpool FC is absolutely outstanding. But you anyway in his lesser-good moments go for him like he didn’t want to perform. ‘Why is he like that?’

    “Sorry, they’re human beings, it happens from time to time. That we are not spot on probably happens to you as well. Yes, thank God, he’s absolutely spot on, top shape, we need him; we need them all. I think he learned an important lesson tonight for himself. Not that he needed to learn it, but we gave him the opportunity to learn it. Whatever happens, you always can win the game whatever.

    “Because we couldn’t explain to the players what the plan was. We explain to the players on the outside [that] we want them to do this and that. Majority of the other guys standing on the pitch just adapt to it.

    “Kids come on. Harvey outside, Harvey inside. Joey [Gomez] inside. Stuff like this. I was a player myself and you think, ‘What’s the idea behind that?’ But nobody, I saw it in their faces, nobody thought [that]. Just, ‘OK, come on.’ Then we do it like that. Yeah, he will not forget, not because it was the first trophy as Liverpool captain, [but] just because [of] the circumstances.”

  • Van Dijk shares top tunes for EFL final as Omah Lay, Rema, Asake make playlist

    Van Dijk shares top tunes for EFL final as Omah Lay, Rema, Asake make playlist

    Liverpool defender, Virgil Van Dijk, has shared his top tunes for the EFL Carabao Cup Final 2024.

    The playlist, posted on EFL’s TikTok page,  featured tracks from Nigerian stars Omah Lay, Asake, and Rema.

    The Dutch defender explained that the playlist is dominated by Afrobeats because he loves to have nice vibes.

    Van Dijk said: “Hi, my name is Virgil Van Dijk and these are my top five tracks.

    “Number one is Omah Lay with ‘Holy Ghost.’ Dope! Listen to it. It keeps you in the mood. The second one would be Mase with ‘Feel So Good.’ Very good classic. Unbelievable! Then the third one will be The Notorious B.I.G with ‘Mo Money Mo Problems.’ Nice vibes, you know what I mean?

    “So, number four would Asake with ‘Lonely At The Top.’ Nice one, nice vibes. The sun is shining hopefully, it will be nice. And my fifth one would be Rema with ‘Charm.’ Very nice.

    “There is a lot of Afrobeats because I like to have nice vibes, sun is shining, smiling faces and winning the Carabao Cup Final.”

  • I take full responsibility – Van Dijk after Arsenal loss

    I take full responsibility – Van Dijk after Arsenal loss

    Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk, has taken responsibility for Gabriel Martinelli’s goal in a 3-1 loss to Arsenal on Sunday.

    Bukayo Saka had made it 1-0, before a clumsy own goal from Gabriel Magalhaes levelled the game.

    But early in the second half, Van Dijk clashed into goalkeeper Allisson Becker, leaving Martinelli to roll the ball into an empty net.

    Leandro Trossard then came off the bench to seal a huge victory for the Gunners.

    Van Dijk, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “A tough day. I think the 2-1 [Martinelli’s goal] I take full responsibility for that.

    “That is a big moment in the game. I should have made a better decision – it hurts for me.

    “Like I said, that was a big turning point in the game. After the break we were so good and had opportunities and were dominant, the atmosphere started to come nervous.

    “The turning point is my responsibility, I should try to clear it.

    “Obviously these things don’t happen too often in my career, but I will recover from this.

    “It is a physical game and I am not looking for excuses. At the highest level it is a split decision.

    “Alisson touched me a little bit and he couldn’t clear it, but I take full responsibility for this and I will try to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

  • Ban abusive Van Dijk for four matches – Ex-ref

    Ban abusive Van Dijk for four matches – Ex-ref

    Ex-Prem ref Mark Halsey says Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk should be banned for four matches after his dismissal at Newcastle.

    Van Dijk will miss one game after being sent off in the first-half of Liverpool’s 2-1 win on Tyneside.

    But Halsey wrote for The Sun: “We must not tolerate any more abuse of match officials.

    “So the Football Association has to clamp down and punish Virgil Van Dijk for his unacceptable behaviour at Newcastle on Sunday.

    “The new Liverpool captain fell well below the standards set by one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League.

    “I know Van Dijk’s only been captain for three games since Jordan Henderson moved to Saudi Arabia but if I was Jurgen Klopp I would already be thinking, ‘Is Virgil setting the right example?’

    “Van Dijk’s abusive actions at St James’ Park also have an impact on the wider footballing world.

    “The Dutch defender was correctly sent off by referee John Brooks for the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity on Alexander Isak.

    “Van Dijk refused to accept the decision and took a total of two minutes 28 seconds to get down the tunnel from the moment he was dismissed.

    “Van Dijk will rightly receive a one-match ban for the straight red card but I believe his suspension should be increased.

    “Of course, this will depend on Brooks’ official report but the abusive and insulting language used by the new Reds leader could be worthy of another red card and result in an additional three-match ban.

    “That would rule out Van Dijk for four matches in total – a fitting punishment for his poor conduct.”

  • Qatar 2022: Van Dijk reveals his experience after Argentina defeat

    Qatar 2022: Van Dijk reveals his experience after Argentina defeat

    Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has shared his experience after Netherlands’ elimination from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

    Van Dijk scored for Liverpool in a win at Aston Villa with his first appearance back after his country’s defeat to Argentina on the world stage.

    Van Dijk told Viaplay: “It was time to score again. It was important to come back this way.”

    The Dutchman was asked about his missed penalty in the quarterfinal defeat to Argentina.

    “Of course I have now forgotten the penalty kick, because life continues. In this case it took two days before I lost it. I was unable to sleep after the game. That makes sense, because you are very close after a 2-0 deficit.

    “Unfortunately you miss the penalty and you are floored. That was very heavy that night and the night after.”

  • Qatar 2022: You never say positive things – Van Dijk blasts Van Basten

    Qatar 2022: You never say positive things – Van Dijk blasts Van Basten

    Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has hit back at Dutch great Marco van Basten after Holland’s 1-1 draw with Ecuador.

    Van Basten blamed Van Dijk for Enner Valencia’s goal and also questioned the defender’s captaincy.

    Van Dijk responded this morning stating: “He never says positive things.

    “What do you want me to do? It’s easy to talk from the studio.

    “Am I failing as a captain? What do you want me to do with that information? I’m always direct and lead the team in the best way possible…”

  • World Cup: Van Dijk hits back at spineless accusations over “One Love” armband

    World Cup: Van Dijk hits back at spineless accusations over “One Love” armband

    Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has hit back at accusations that not wearing a “One Love” armband at the World Cup showed a lack of “backbone”.

    It was confirmed on Monday that skippers of the Oranje, England, Wales, Belgium, Germany, Denmark and Switzerland would not don the armband in Qatar.

    That came after FIFA threatened to book captains if they broke regulations and made their own statements on social issues, rather than following guidelines from the game’s governing body.

    “One Love”, which promotes “inclusion and sends a message against discrimination of any kind”, has grown in significance in the build-up to the tournament in a country where homosexuality is illegal.

    The European nations were criticised for not going through with their pledge to wear the armbands.

    But Van Dijk believes it is unfair to be accused of being spineless after the Oranje started the tournament with a 2-0 win over Senegal.

    He said: “I play in a position where a yellow card is not useful. I became a football player and I want to play these kind of tournaments.

    “There are people who say we don’t have a backbone, but that’s not how it works.

    “We just want to play football. I would have loved to play with that band, but not at the expense of a yellow card.”

    It has been reported that captains could have faced a one-match ban if they had worn the One Love armband.