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Virgil van Dijk looks set to STAMP on the penalty spot just before Jarrod Bowen’s attempt was saved by Alisson as Liverpool narrowly beat West Ham… with Reds fans saluting the Dutchman’s ‘s***housery’
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Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk appeared to stomp on the penalty spot just before Jarrod Bowen’s attempt was saved by Alisson in the Reds’ 1-0 win over West Ham on Wednesday night.
Jurgen Klopp’s men took their second consecutive Premier League win and appear to be regaining confidence after a difficult season so far – but it wasn’t easy against the Hammers as Darwin Nunez’s strike was the only goal of the game turned out to be.
And West Ham could have taken a result out of the game if Bowen hadn’t missed his bet, although some eagle-eyed fans saw that just before slacking off, Van Dijk appeared to be pimpled on the penalty spot.
Virgil van Dijk appeared to stomp on the penalty spot for Jarrod Bowen’s miss for West Ham in their 1-0 loss at Liverpool
The Dutchman trudged to the spot before checking to see if he had subtly stepped on the spot and pushed in with his studs
Bowen’s penalty was held back moments later by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson
After West Ham were awarded a penalty just before half-time – when Joe Gomez had beaten Bowen – the Dutchman was seen trudging from his own goal and appeared to have attempted to step onto the turf where Bown was about to take his stairs before he walks away.
Bowen failed to convert and Liverpool keeper Alisson rose to palm his left foot strike to the right.
Van Dijk – who played the full 90 minutes – was praised on social media by Liverpool fans for his alleged ‘s***housery’.
One fan wrote on Twitter: ‘Van Dijk s***housery is what this team needs.’
“Great respect for Van Dijk for polishing the penalty spot and Alisson for postponing it. Vintage s***housery,” said another.
Another Liverpool fan called him a ‘legend’ – and others hit back at criticism of him by noting that Bowen had placed the ball on the edge of the spot after all.
Liverpool fans praised him for his ‘s***housery’, but others labeled the Dutchman as ‘disgraceful’
But some supporters claimed the behavior was “unsportsmanlike” and “disgraceful”.
“Van Dijk clears the penalty spot,” read another post from a rival supporter. ‘That’s an outright red card. Disgusting and deserves a long ban.’
A West Ham fan labeled Van Dijk’s antics as ‘game art’ but refused to blame him for the missed penalty and instead pointed the finger at Bowen.
“As a West Ham fan I have no problem with this ‘gamemanship’, but the penalty was stupid!”
Liverpool are now seventh in the table – four points from fourth-place Chelsea – and Klopp praised their showing, saying the club had a ‘very important period’ ahead of the World Cup trying to get as many results as possible .
“It certainly wasn’t easy tonight, but we played well enough – and very well at times. In the end good enough to earn three points.’
Jurgen Klopp praised Liverpool’s win against West Ham but said they are going through a difficult period
“I think the first half was a very good first half, with a bad ending for us with the penalty – but with a good ending because Ali was able to save the penalty,” Klopp added.
“It still left a bit of a bad taste like we were lucky, but the first half wasn’t – we played an exceptional game.
“We played really good football, we created, we scored a great goal, hit the post, Lukasz Fabianski with great saves and big blocks in the decisive areas of West Ham, but we didn’t play very well in the second half, so that’s why open the game.
“It’s a very important, tough period for all teams, so you have to grind the results out and now the next fight (from Nottingham Forest) is already waiting in three days.”