Fans spot moment Van Dijk could have got Andre Onana sent off… but ‘decided he’d rather keep Man Utd keeper on pitch’
EAGLE-EYED football fans spotted a moment that could have got Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana sent off against Liverpool on Sunday.
While Liverpool were preparing to take a corner, captain Virgil van Dijk positioned himself next to Onana on the goal-line.
The Dutchman appeared to tap him on the arm, but the goalkeeper responded by elbowing him in the stomach.
Van Dijk dramatically grabbed his midriff in response before laughing at Onana.
However, some fans think he could have easily got the goalkeeper sent off following the interaction.
One person took to X to write: “Virgil van Dijk probably thought Onana would be better on the pitch than being sent off.”
Another commented: “If it was United’s player, he would have fell down and be crying for foul.”
While a third joked: “Onana getting sent off is advantage United tbf. I’d have stayed on my feet too.”
Liverpool went on to beat Man Utd 3-0 at Old Trafford.
Luis Diaz scored twice in the first half to give his side the lead.
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Man Utd player ratings vs Liverpool
MANCHESTER UNITED had a horror show against Liverpool as they lost 3-0.
Casemiro was so bad he was taken off at half-time.
But were there any positive performances at Old Trafford?
Andre Onana – 5
Nothing he could do about any of Liverpool’s goals and made a few saves to prevent the scoreline from getting worse.
Noussair Mazraoui – 5
Came close to scoring in the first half and looked solid enough against Diaz although he did push up too high before Liverpool’s opener.
Matthijs de Ligt – 4
Left Diaz and Domink Szobozslai in acres of space for the opening goal but was left in a tricky spot thanks to Casemiro’s error.
Booked for a shocking late tackle on Diaz.
Lisandro Martinez – 3
Lost Diaz for the second goal which meant the Colombian was able to score unmarked from the penalty spot.
Also guilty of giving away the ball too easily and was not tight enough with his marking.
Diogo Dalot – 4
Was caught out pushing up too quickly for the first goal and did not do enough to stop Mo Salah’s cross in the build-up to Liverpool’s second.
Looked dangerous in attack at times but too infrequently as he had plenty of defensive work to do since Rashford did not track Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Casemiro – 2
A horror show in the first half as he gave the ball away in the lead up to both of Liverpool’s goals.
He was caught on the ball for the second after a shocking misplaced pass left his defence vulnerable for the opening goal. Hooked at half-time.
Kobbie Mainoo – 4
Fell victim to the Casemiro curse as he was shrugged off the ball in a terrible position, allowing Liverpool to add a third with ease.
Bruno Fernandes – 5
Was United’s most creative spark but that is not saying much. Tried to get his side going in the first half but looked short of ideas and inspiration after the break.
Alejandro Garnacho – 4
Still appears to be a little rusty and is yet to hit the heights he reached last season.
Marcus Rashford – 3
Nothing came off for the out-of-sorts forward who must be running out of chances before he is dropped.
Joshua Zirkzee – 4
Quiet up-front and had little influence on the wing as well, but missed a clear-cut chance with his head and should have turned in Rashford’s cross which he met at the far post.
Subs
Tom Collyer (for Casemiro, HT) – 5
A difficult game for the youngster to make his Premier League debut but he put himself about and won a few tackles.
Harry Maguire (for De Ligt, 69mins) – 5
Shored things up at the back as Liverpool took their foot off the pedal.
Amad (for Garnacho, 69mins) – 5
Provided a spark on the right and looked more lively than Garnacho.
Christian Eriksen (for Zirkzee, 86mins) – N/A
Not on long enough to make an impact.
Mohamed Salah then secured the win with a second-half strike.
Speaking after the match, new Liverpool boss Arne Slot revealed exactly how his team broke down United.
He told Sky Sports: “Last season, they were man-marking on the midfield, and they had a press with the seven and 11 (the wingers).
“So with the striker, and one of the wingers jumped with him.
“This season, they are more with a 9 and 10 press, so they’re more in a 4-4-2.
“So that’s different, of course. I see them, in my opinion, working harder if the ball is being played through them, so they run more. That’s at least what I saw in their first games.
“Their style is also – this is maybe last season, I don’t remember that well – but their full-backs, nine out of ten times, are really high, and then Casemiro comes in between.
“So, if you pick up the ball and you can keep Diaz and Mo Salah high, then you’re constantly in a one-on-one situation.
“Then you need midfielders that can run, and we had three of them today that kept running, and if they arrive in a duel, they are aggressive enough to win it.
“So that was, I think, one of the main reasons why we could win today.”
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