Virgil van Dijk launched a stinging attack on VAR during a tense post-match interview following Liverpool's loss to Arsenal. The Premier League champions narrowly beat the Reds 1-0, with Kai Havertz's first-half strike proving decisive.
Andoni Iraola's squad were incensed after watching two first-half penalty appeals dismissed by both referee Andy Madley and VAR. The most contentious ruling came when Jurriën Timber grabbed Alexander Isak by his shirt as the £125 million ($170 million) forward attempted to connect with a threatening cross from Bradley Barcola.
Gary Neville was convinced it was a penalty and was visibly stunned when Isak failed to appeal or challenge the decision. Following the final whistle, Van Dijk turned his anger towards the VAR officials.
Isak was pulled back by Timber as he looked to get on the end of a cross -Credit:2026 Getty Images
When the incident was raised with Van Dijk, he told Sky Sports via The Mirror : "It was a clear penalty on Isak. It's a penalty but today it wasn't meant to be."
The reporter then questioned whether Isak should have protested to draw the referee's attention to the incident, prompting Van Dijk to fire back with questions of his own, asking: "VAR doesn't notice it?
"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."
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was equally incensed by the ruling, arguing that VAR had failed to fulfill its purpose. He said: "One of the best goalscorers in the league is pulled back seven yards out and it stops him heading the ball - why does he need to make a meal of it? VAR do your job."
Iraola also used his post-match press conference to vent his frustration over several crucial calls, suggesting his striker may have needed to go to ground to earn the decision. The Reds boss said: "There is a clear grab [of] the shirt.
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"Alex [Isak] was just in front of him, he was going to head in front of the goal but couldn't because he had the shirt. I don't understand why they didn't call it, probably because he has not gone to the floor.
"I think the [Cody] Gakpo one was not a penalty but the Alex one he was going to head the ball in front of the goalkeeper.
"He grabbed the shirt. I don't understand why it wasn't called. You have to dive, if you don't dive they won't call it. That's the problem we have with the game. Because he doesn't dive and go to the floor.
"The fact that you are even asking me if he should go to the floor, if he goes to the floor, they call the penalty 100 percent."
