Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk expressed his frustration with the presumed disrespect for Manchester United before the teams’ latest meeting. To be sure, United added an exclamation point on a 2–2 draw, when Amad Diallo buried a late equalizer.
Leading into the match, expectations were low for United to even score a goal, let alone earn a win. They were on a three-game losing slide.
Despite facing the odds, United put in a strong performance that was likely to have surprised a lot of people. Van Dijk relayed his reaction to what he read in the press – that they thought the match was not United’s season’s biggest or most challenging match, that his surprise was player rotation. “It was the biggest game of the season, one of the hardest games of the season,” said Van Dijk.
He noted the quality and potential of United’s squad and as such, Manchester United, even as a work in progress, should not be underestimated.
In the same breath, Van Dijk used the question to defend Trent Alexander-Arnold, who received criticism following the match. The defender’s future has garnered more attention as his contract nears the two-year mark and interest in him grows, with Real Madrid regularly linked. Liverpool reportedly dismissed any offer from the Spanish club for a transfer this January.
Indeed, some fans and commentators felt that Alexander-Arnold’s struggle could be attributed to transfer rumors. Van Dijk disagreed, stressed that Trent is “focusing on his performances and the success of this team.” He would explain that Trent has a good environment around him to cope with potential distractions.
This is why the bragging rights of the Liverpool and Manchester United games are highly prized. They are fraught with history and meaning and force the best football to be played.
This latest tie underscores that Manchester United, despite their recent troubles, still have the quality to test the top of the league. As both teams move on, the importance of respect in football is clear, both in its media and players.
This encounter also sets the stage for further development in both squads as they seek improvement throughout the season.
