Roy Keane slams Liverpool for ‘defending like a pub team’ to allow Arsenal back into the title race after 3-1 win at the Emirates… and blames captain Virgil van Dijk for ALL THREE Gunners goals
Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher criticized Virgil van Dijk’s defense and blamed him for all three goals as Arsenal beat Liverpool 3-1 at the Emirates on Sunday.
In a key clash in the race for the Premier League title, Arsenal regained the lead when a defensive miscommunication between Van Dijk and Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson allowed an easy chance for Gabriel Martinelli.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Keane was particularly unimpressed by the performance of Van Dijk, who has been a fixture at the heart of Liverpool’s backline for so long.
Keane said: ‘The intensity from the first whistle to the last from Liverpool, in possession and without, I can’t believe how bad they were.
“Thanks to Arsenal, they turned up and were busy. Liverpool defensively, the goals they gave away were like a pub team defending.”
Virgil van Dijk’s defense was planned by Sky Sports pundits after Liverpool’s defeat to Arsenal
Roy Keane selected Van Dijk and held him responsible for all three Gunners goals
For the third goal, Leandro Trossard was given enough space to attack Liverpool’s goal, prompting Keane to say ‘Trossard can’t believe his luck here’, adding ‘he’s almost reluctant to shoot’.
He believed that Van Dijk should have dived or lunged to avert the danger, which ultimately led to the goal that was the solution for the hosts.
Later, Keane selected Van Dijk for all three Arsenal attacks. Keane said: ‘I blame him for the three goals. Of course he has the right to have a bad game, but when you give away three goals in such an important game, you know it’s going to hurt them at the end of the season.”
Former Liverpool legend Carragher agreed with his fellow Sky Sports pundit.
Analyzing Arsenal’s second goal, he said: ‘I think it’s a very big mistake that you probably make once a season, and it just happened. Van Dijk must lead that.’
Alisson has also come under fire, with Carragher believing the ball should have been headed away from danger.
Carragher said: ‘Don’t make it complicated. Don’t let it bounce. I mean, we’re talking schoolboy stuff here. We really are. He should just send that back to Konate.”
Martinelli nudged Van Dijk, but he was within his rights to do so as he challenged for the ball, and while Carragher accepts that this might have put Alisson off somewhat, he has no qualms about claiming Liverpool should have had basic football knowledge have to deal with that situation. .
A disastrous mistake from Alisson and van Dijk gave Arsenal the lead in the Emirates
Carragher said the two experienced Liverpool players should have known how to deal with it
Carragher added: “That can happen anytime you bounce the ball. Like I said, this isn’t about playing at the highest level, you learn that at the lower level of football, as a defender you just have to deal with it.’
He then defends the performances of both players over the past half-decade in Liverpool colours, adding: ‘I think that’s why Liverpool are back where they are, because of the performances of those two. But that was a howler monkey.’
Van Dijk took the blame for the mistake in his post-match interview with Sky Sports, but said Liverpool have a chance to put things right next time when they host Burnley on Saturday.
