Virgil Van Dijk: Defender gives perfect response to reporter’s ‘Bad weather’ judgment on Fulham goal

Watch the video of Virgil Van Dijk giving a perfect response to reporter’s bad weather judgment on Fulham’s goal.

Liverpool took their chances against Fulham to beat them 2-1 at Craven Cottage and lead the Premier League table. Scott Parker’s side were organized and did not give the visitors a sniff until Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino combined to a devastating effect in the first half to lead the game.

Jurgen Klopp would have been angry because the Reds created plenty of chances to put the game beyond the bed in the first half. It was the same case in the second part of the game when there was excellent penetration from the defense to the offensive part, but the forward lacked enough composure in front of the goal.

Hosts thought they equalized the score, but Zambo Anguissa was flagged offside, and rightfully so. Fulham had yet another chance before they finally scored their first in the game.

Substitute James Milner’s scuffed clearance gave way for Virgil Van Dijk to head the ball to the goalkeeper Alisson Becker. But, Liverpool’s number 4 header did not have much pace on the ball which forced the goalkeeper to rush down the spot. The Brazilian also lost the ball paving way for the former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel to tap the ball in from close range.

It was a very rare mistake from Virgil Van Dijk who rightly acknowledged that it was his mistake even though James Milner took sole responsibility of it. It was Virgil Van Dijk’s first mistake in the Premier League which directly lead to goal since joining Liverpool.

VIRGIL VAN DIJK AND JAMES MILNER ADMIT THEIR MISTAKES:

Watch the video of Virgil Van Dijk and James Milner admitting their mistakes in the post-match interview.

Fulham’s resistance lasted for just seven minutes before Sadio Mane was brought inside the penalty box. The Senegalese International was pulled back by the goalkeeper Sergio Rico when the Spanish shot-stopper lost his control of the ball. James Milner, who made a mistake early made up for it by converting the spot-kick in the 81st minute.

“It’s one of those situations where you try to head it back. The ball was a little too short and it was a difficult ball to get, and Ryan was good to intercept the ball and score the goal,” Van Dijk told in the post-match interview.

“It gave them some belief but obviously that happens sometimes in games. Mistakes are a part of football, you have to take it and I will as well.”

“Mistakes happen in football. It is what it is, but we go again. I’m not giving excuses, they scored, but we scored again and we go home top of the league.

“It’s massive. We knew it would be a tough game. We made it difficult for ourselves. We weren’t calm on the ball and didn’t create too many options and obviously my mistake made it even more exciting for them. But we got the three points and we can now focus on the national teams.” added Van Dijk.

James Milner, whose miskick lead to Van Dijk’s heading took sole responsibility of the goal and did justice to his side after dispatching the spot-kick later.

“The gaffer said come on and calm it down so the best thing to do is slice it over the top and put Virg under pressure, which wasn’t ideal, but luckily enough we got the result.” Milner said.

Following the International break, Liverpool will invite Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield on March 31st as they take yet another stride for their league title. The Reds have been drawn against FC Porto in the Champions League Quarterfinals.