Virgil van Dijk Fires Back at Critics Following Liverpool's Arsenal Stalemate
Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has expressed confusion over the positive reception of the Reds' goalless stalemate with Arsenal on Thursday evening.
The North London side, who now hold a six-point advantage at the Premier League summit, entered the midweek clash at Emirates Stadium as clear favourites, yet Liverpool successfully stifled their hosts to claim a valuable point.
Arne Slot's team controlled 52% of possession on the road but couldn't register a single effort on target during a match that lacked cutting edge in attacking areas.
"I find it somewhat puzzling that people view this as a strong showing because when we control 60 or 70% of the ball against other opponents, people call it tedious, yet now it's considered excellent," he commented.
"However, we barely manufactured any opportunities and suddenly we're saying, 'What a display.' This reflects our identity - we can control possession, we understand how to construct attacks, but we clearly struggle in certain areas.
"Set-piece situations represent one challenge, while capitalizing on moments in the attacking third, finding the correct pass and proper execution, remains below the standard of some rival teams, which is why we train relentlessly every day.
"Certainly we excelled in ball retention, but for me it wasn't significantly different from facing Leeds at Anfield or Fulham on their ground, where we also controlled possession.
"Yet supporters become frustrated that these clubs don't match Arsenal's calibre so it's deemed insufficient, which I fully understand, incidentally, because I also want to witness us generating more opportunities."
Van Dijk Addresses Martinelli Controversy
With minimal goal-scoring action to discuss, the main talking point from Thursday's encounter emerged in the final moments when Conor Bradley collapsed clutching his knee and Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli attempted to push him off the field to continue play.
Martinelli has faced widespread criticism for both dropping the ball onto the injured Bradley and attempting to move him from the pitch, with the Liverpool full-back eventually requiring a stretcher and potentially suffering a serious injury. Martinelli has subsequently issued an apology, claiming he misunderstood the seriousness of the situation.
"Our primary concern is with Conor," Van Dijk stated. "We're hoping for the best outcome, though initial signs aren't encouraging.
"A high ball arrived, Conor contested it and subsequently collapsed on the turf. Martinelli then clearly pushed him off the field. Our squad responded to that action and we all gathered together. Everyone was displeased with that incident, and justifiably so.
"The situation doesn't appear positive for Conor and reflects poorly on Martinelli as well. Our focus remains on Conor. He'll undergo medical examinations within the next day and we'll need to adjust accordingly."