Michael Owen and Les Ferdinand agreed that Virgil van Dijk was rightfully sent off during Liverpool’s stunning 2-1 win against Newcastle United on Sunday at St James’ Park.
It was a ferocious start, with both teams going at each other’s throats from the get-go and the vocal Newcastle United fans unhappy that Trent Alexander-Arnold didn’t receive two yellow cards in a matter of moments.
The Liverpool right-back, before he could watch Virgil van Dijk shown a straight red card, made a costly error that led to former Everton man, Anthony Gordon, bursting through on goal to open the scoring.
That’s when Van Dijk, who was made Liverpool captain this season after Jordan Henderson’s exit, was told to have an early bath for bringing down Alexander Isak, with Michael Owen adding that it’s a call that will ‘split opinion throughout the world’, as he told Premier League Productions (27/08/23 at 5:25 pm).
One thing is for sure, the player himself was pretty unhappy at the call as he gave the on-field referee, John Brooks, a mouthful before VAR backed the call and the Dutchman proceeded to volley abuse at the third official as he walked down the tunnel.
Either way, former Premier League strikers Owen and Ferdinand, were pretty clear on how they felt about Van Dijk’s red, before Darwin Nunez’s brace, including a stoppage-time winner, helped his side win the game.
“My initial reading of it was that it was a foul,” said Ferdinand. “You heard me shout straightaway that ‘if it’s a foul, then it’s a sending off’.
“For me, if Isak goes through, then he is on goal. He is shooting against the goalkeeper. It’s a goalscoring opportunity. I think the referee made the right call.”
Owen added: “If you break it down into two things, is it a foul? Yes, then if it’s a foul, is it a goalscoring opportunity? And the answer is, yes again, so then you say it’s a red card.
“Bang on the leg, then he wins it – watch Virgil van Dijk’s right foot colliding with Isak’s right foot, then he wins the ball – I think this is going to split opinion throughout the world, whether it’s a red or not – I say, through gritted teeth, it’s the right decision.”
More misery for Van Dijk
The 31-year-old just has to accept that he made a mistake and he was at fault for, in a rash manner, taking down Isak, who would have had the chance to score.
These last 12 months haven’t been great for the player because his form has gone out of the window and now he will be serving a suspension.
Liverpool fans won’t see Van Dijk until after the international break now, with their home clash against Aston Villa next week, the final game before domestic football is halted for two weeks.
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