Virgil van Dijk Slams VAR as Liverpool Lose to Arsenal at Anfield

Liverpool were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal at Anfield and the main talking point arrived long before the final whistle. Virgil van Dijk went straight to it afterwards, and he had every right to. The captain could not understand how a shirt pull on Alexander Isak inside the box was ignored, by both the referee and VAR, in a game decided by a single goal.

Arsenal had already gone ahead through Kai Havertz in the 16th minute. Then came the key flashpoint. As Isak attacked a header in the area, Jurrien Timber clearly tugged his shirt. No penalty was given. No review changed it. Liverpool were left chasing a game in which they did plenty of shooting and very little threatening.

Van Dijk did not bother dressing it up. “VAR doesn’t notice it?” he said. “There are 50 cameras.” “Why does he have to complain when there’s so many cameras.” “Everyone has seen it.” “At the end of the day, it wasn’t given so congratulations to Arsenal.”

VAR controversy overshadows blunt Liverpool display

The irritation is obvious, but Liverpool also have to look at themselves. They had 17 attempts and did not manage a single shot on target. That is a damning number, particularly at Anfield, and it meant David Raya had one of the quieter afternoons of his season. Florian Wirtz hit the bar with a free-kick, Alexis Mac Allister headed over when unmarked, and that was about as close as it got.

For all the noise around the penalty appeal, this was a poor attacking display. Isak’s run of six league games with a goal came to an end, and Liverpool never found enough quality in the final third to force Arsenal into panic.

Anfield form becoming a real Liverpool problem

This is no longer a one-off. Liverpool have scored only four league goals in five home games this season. That is not title-challenging form, it is mid-table output in a stadium where opponents used to get overwhelmed. The defeat leaves Liverpool fifth on 15 points, one behind Chelsea and nine behind the champions.

Van Dijk was honest about that too. “Disappointment.” “We are at home.” “It wasn’t enough today.” “I’m disappointed.” That sums it up neatly. The officiating may have been poor, but Liverpool were not good enough either.

Arsenal defence delivers at Anfield

Arsenal deserve credit for doing the ugly side of the game properly. They defended with discipline, protected their box and took the chance that came their way. It was their first league win at Anfield since September 2012, ending 13 visits without victory. Havertz’s goal was also his 46th in the Premier League, moving him past İlkay Gündoğan as the competition’s highest-scoring German.

Photo: IMAGO

Liverpool now head into a difficult stretch with a Champions League trip to Fenerbahçe next, followed by a visit to Crystal Palace. The bigger concern is simple, goals are drying up at Anfield, VAR is offering no help, and the margin for error is already shrinking fast.