FOOTBALL: VAN DIJK DISPUTES ROY KEANE’S CLAIMS THAT HE’S ‘ARROGANT’
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By Sefiu Ajape
Claims made by Roy Keane of Sky Sport has been rejected by Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk, who stated that his post-match remarks following their goalless draw with Manchester United showed “absolutely no arrogance.”
Despite having 34 shots and winning 12 corners, Jurgen Klopp’s team pushed hard the entire Super Sunday match at Anfield. Even though they were greatly favored to win, United was in a determined mood.
Erik ten Hag’s team might have even won the match with a counter-attack, supposing that Rasmus Hojlund had not been denied by Alisson in the second half.
However, Van Dijk stated that he believed Liverpool had done more than enough to win the game when asked about his thoughts on the game.
He said: “There was only one team trying to win the game. Unfortunately it didn’t happen. We want to win every game, especially a team like them.
“It’s frustrating as we were superior in all aspects and they were just hoping on the counter attack to hurt us. In the end they are buzzing with a point and we are disappointed with a point.
“They aren’t in the best phase so coming here you have to worry about the threat we have. But we should have won today. There are big games coming up and we won’t dwell on it.”
The remarks Van Dijk made infuriated Sky Sport’s Keane.
In response, the former Manchester United captain said: “There’s a lot of arrogance coming out of him, dissing Manchester United like that.
“He needs reminding that he is playing for a club that has won one title in 30-odd years.
“Manchester United are in a difficult place, just like Liverpool have been in a difficult place for many years. So maybe that arrogance backfired on him today.
“He needs to remember where he is coming from. One title in 33 years?
“He said Man United were buzzing and one team came to play. Yeah, I’ve come to Anfield many times with Manchester United where Liverpool were in a tough place and were happy with a draw.
“The bottom line is that the most important stat is the scoreline. Liverpool had chances and didn’t take them. That’s their own fault.”
When asked about Keane’s remarks later, Van Dijk responded, “I like Roy Keane, so it is okay if he said that.
Van Dijk added that, “He is Man Utd throughout and I understand he could react like that but I felt what I said and there is absolutely no arrogance in that.
“Everyone who watched the game probably felt the same. We move on. We had the opportunity and we couldn’t score and that’s the frustrating part.”
Liverpool’s manager, Jurgen Klopp, expressed his frustration that his team was unable to overcome and described the performance as their most commanding against Manchester United, surpassing even the 7-0 victory from the previous season.
He told Sky Sports: “I saw a lot of good things, the one thing I don’t like is the result. We should have scored.
“We were in a rush in moments but I liked a lot the intensity of the game and the start to the game. Everyone saw what we wanted, our counter-pressing was good as a group and we didn’t let them out.
“I can’t remember such a dominant performance against Man Utd – even the 7-0 they were more in the game. Now it’s 0-0 they probably feel slightly better than us. But we take the point and keep going.
“It was the type of game I expected. If we play like this it is difficult for the opposite team to get out of their own half and the way United defended was clean with a lot of passion.
“If you score it changes the dynamic of the game and they open up a bit and take more risk. But nothing changed, they threw everything in and it’s a 0-0.”
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