Virgil van Dijk responds to red card claim amid strong Arsenal argument against VAR call

Virgil van Dijk and Kai Havertz collided off the ball during Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. It was an action which occurred very early in the game but could have had a very different impact on its outcome should Anthony Taylor made a different call.

The referee only gave a verbal warning to Van Dijk after the incident that left Havertz on the ground, rolling in pain. Subsequent replays have circulated and sparked frustration, particularly on an Arsenal side, that the Dutchman was not sent off for violent conduct.

In football.london’s refereeing review, the verdict was made that the second kick out which looks more like a stamp on Havertz, was indeed enough to warrant a punishment for violent conduct. The Liverpool defender has a different view.

Speaking to reporters after the match, the Reds’ captain says that it was simply part of the game. He even went as far as to suggest that Havertz was attempting similar things toward him.

“It is a physical game, these things happen,” he said. “If you watch the battle we had during the game, it goes both ways, and that is part and parcel of the game.”

So far nothing has emerged to support this claim by Van Dijk. He would score the equaliser, of course, cancelling out Bukayo Saka’s opener on the day and shifting the context of the match at the time.

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Despite earning a point thanks to his efforts, Van Dijk was keen to remove any ideas that this was something of a title decider so soon in the campaign. Having competed against Manchester City for many seasons, the centre-half is well-placed to give his view on the scenario.

“The season is so long,” he said. “Over the years I have mentioned it.

“The team that sets a very good foundation before December, and then goes through December in the best-way possible, without any injuries and good results has a good chance to be top of the league. But we focus on one game at a time. It was a tough one today for both sides.

“We got a point. We go back and we focus on Brighton because that one will be a tough game on Wednesday as well.”