If not for the silly Errors,the scoreline could have changed’: Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk blast Arsenal fans for celebrating Liverpool lose like they have won the title already

Virgil van Dijk stepped forward to shoulder the blame for the chain of mistakes that paved the way for Arsenal’s second goal in their 3-1 triumph over Liverpool on Sunday.

Despite enduring a challenging first half, Liverpool managed to rally in the early stages of the second half. However, a pivotal moment occurred when a lengthy pass found its way to Gabriel Martinelli with 25 minutes left on the clock. The unpredictable bounce caught both Van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson off guard, as they failed to clear the ball, inadvertently presenting it to Martinelli for an easy goal into an unguarded net.

Van Dijk, reflecting on the error, admitted culpability, saying to Sky Sports after the match, “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.”

Despite Liverpool’s commendable efforts in the second half, the atmosphere turned tense after this turning point. Van Dijk acknowledged, “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.”

Acknowledging the physical nature of the game and refusing to make excuses, Van Dijk emphasized, “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.”

Reflecting on the challenging nature of playing at the Emirates, Van Dijk mentioned, “Obviously, for every team in the league [the Emirates] is a tough place to go to.” He expressed the disappointment of losing in such a manner and the impact on the fans and the club. He added, “It is not nice to be involved in mistakes, but I will work hard and be back.”

Despite the setback, Liverpool remains at the top of the Premier League, albeit with their lead narrowed to just two points. With Manchester City trailing by five points and having played two games fewer, the title race promises to be intense in the coming weeks.