Following Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 loss to Chelsea on Saturday night, Virgil van Dijk disclosed the subject of his post-match conversation with Anthony Taylor. After Estevao’s first Premier League goal—the Brazilian sensation who arrived at the back post to bury the champs in the 96th minute—the captain was spotted challenging the referee.
Under new manager Arne Slot, the loss was the first time Liverpool had lost three straight games. The team’s early-season teething issues finally showed as they gave up their lead over Arsenal before the October international break. Eddie Nketiah’s goal for Crystal Palace in the 97th minute the previous weekend was the second time in a week that the Reds were denied a respectable draw in London due to a stoppage-time goal.
This season, the lateness of Liverpool’s pivotal moments has already generated discussion. They won every one of their first five games in the 83rd minute or later. Van Dijk was not happy with how things turned out, despite the fact that some may argue that the last two league losses are a taste of their own medicine.
Anthony Taylor Was Interrogated by Van Dijk Regarding Stoppage Time Allowance
Van Dijk was spotted talking to Taylor at the final whistle at Stamford Bridge, according to Liverpool Echo. The defender then clarified that he was asking how much stoppage time had been used in the second half on Saturday night. According to the 34-year-old:
“With good reason, I witnessed the celebrations [for Estevao’s winning goal].” However, I believed that the festivities lasted longer than two minutes, so when he blew his whistle, I checked the clock and saw that it was 98. “How is that possible?” was what I was wondering. I wasn’t upset or hostile at the time; I was just asking a very courteous question. I simply wanted to know where the reasoning is.
The skipper went on, “But that is not where the main focus should be,” however. “We ought to get better. That ought to be the primary goal. The good news is that when we return, we will have the chance to learn even more than before.
With the international break interspersing what has been an unpredictable start to the season, Liverpool now has less than two weeks to regroup before their next match, when they host Manchester United to Anfield.
After a summer in which the Reds’ management abandoned their previously prudent approach, spending over £400 million and managing the turnover of 15 players, it is believed that Slot’s team will eventually find their form. However, for the time being, the Dutchman is still unsure of his best lineup, and the new players have not yet fully adapted to their surroundings.
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