The score was 3-0 for Liverpool against Manchester United. Virgil van Dijk yelled at Lisandro Martinez for a cheap charge on Dominik Szoboszlai.
When Manchester United star Lisandro Martinez made a cheap challenge on Liverpool teammate Dominik Szoboszlai, Virgil van Dijk rushed to defend him. This showed why he is captain of the team.
Liverpool beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford, with two goals from Luis Diaz and a strike from Mohamed Salah. Van Dijk played all three games. In the 40th minute, the Reds were ahead 1-0 when Martinez went through Szoboszlai’s ankle after he passed the ball, getting a yellow card.
As referee Anthony Taylor gave the United centre back a yellow card, Van Dijk, who had run out from his defensive line, was seen talking to Martinez directly and pointing to him, as if to tell him to stop. On social media, Liverpool fans loved the Dutchman’s behaviour. One wrote, “Love our Virg.” He loves having the duty that comes with being his size.
“Big Virg would have him for breakfast,” said someone else. “That’s our captain!” said a third. “A legend in Liverpool.”
Even more Reds fans were happy in the 42nd minute, when Diaz scored to make it 2-0 and punish Martinez for bad defence. “Even better when you realise that two mins later he loses Diaz for the second goal,” a fan said.
Martinez finally got sent home with his tail between his legs because United had been embarrassed in front of a sad home crowd. It took Liverpool just over 30 minutes to break through their defence. Salah’s right-footed cross was met by Diaz, who headed it home to start the attack.
United defender Casemiro made another mistake that led to Diaz’s second goal. Casemiro was taken off at halftime after a terrible 45 minutes. In the second half, the home team didn’t do anything to respond, and Salah scored to make it three.
Joshua Zirkzee had a good chance to get United back in the game, but Alisson Becker easily saved his weak shot. Soon after, Szoboszlai could have made it 4-0, but he took too long to shoot, and the United defence finally stopped him.
Erik ten Hag’s future as United manager quickly became clear when former captain Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “Erik ten Hag is going to get until Christmas.” The new board and directors of Manchester United are not going to do anything dangerous. There is no question that Ten Hag will get a few months.
