What Virgil van Dijk did after Darwin Nunez’s ‘miss of the season’ vs Union SG speaks volumes
Darwin Nunez’s’miss of the season’ candidate against Union SG was observed, as was Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk’s response.
Nunez has had an excellent start to the season for the Reds, scoring four goals and dishing out two assists in eight games before to Thursday’s 2-0 victory over the Belgian team.
After scoring in the 3-1 victory against LASK in gameweek one, he was given a start for the second Europa League match of the season at Anfield.
Although manager Jurgen Klopp tried to conserve his alternatives for Sunday’s trip to Brighton, things didn’t go exactly according to plan for the Uruguayan, who only featured in the first half.
Nunez squandered a clear opportunity to give the Reds a 1-0 lead in the first half, but he also failed to register a goal.
TV cameras captured the response of the Liverpool bench to the error, with manager Jurgen Klopp looking away in agony.
While everything was going on, Van Dijk stared in disbelief at what he had just witnessed and then moved to pat a teammate on the arm.
Nunez won’t look back on it with fondness, but Liverpool went on to win 2-0 thanks to goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota.
Since completing his summer move from Bayern Munich on the last day of last month, Gravenberch’s goal was his first in a Liverpool uniform.
When discussing the Dutch midfielder’s play following the victory, Klopp said: “It’s really tough to retain rhythm in games like these, but it’s crucial.
Although we should have scored sooner, we instead scored in stoppage time.
“If we want to win contests, we should take use of our opportunities more frequently, but I’m not upset or worried about it. It’s the way things are. We are aware that we must improve.
It was a polished, mature performance. Although we were happy with the outcome, we know we can improve.
Virgil van Dijk has brutally trolled a Manchester United fan over Liverpool’s 7-0 win against them last season.
The Reds produced one of the surprise results of last season, even taking into account United’s poor recent away record against the top Premier League teams.
Liverpool were in the midst of a four-game unbeaten run without conceding in the league at the time, but had struggled to impress throughout 2023 to that point.
To say the result lifted their season wouldn’t be fully correct, as they subsequently lost 1-0 at Bournemouth and went a further three games without a win, but it did remind every club in the division exactly what they were capable of at their very best.
United were well in the game inside the first 40 minutes, but Cody Gakpo put Liverpool ahead shortly before half-time.
And instead of forming a response, United simply crumbled in the second half. Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez all scored twice, and a calamitous day for Erik ten Hag’s side was summed up when Luke Shaw’s clearance smashed into Roberto Firmino in the box, allowing Salah to fire home for 6-0.
Over six months on from that clash, it is Liverpool who are in the stronger position in the league, winning five and drawing one of their first six matches.
United, meanwhile, are in ninth after three wins from six – and Van Dijk couldn’t resist poking fun at one of their fans when recalling the infamous result.
The Dutchman recently appeared on Pro:Direct Soccer’s YouTube channel for their ‘Guess the Song’ game, alongside presenter Harry Pinero – where he showcased some pretty decent singing skills.
At one stage in the contest, Van Dijk led United fan Pinero 7-6 in the scores – with the presenter attempting to buoy himself ahead of the next round.
He exclaimed: “7-6, let’s go!”, before Van Dijk brutally responded: “You like seven, no? Sorry.”
Pinero said: “You lot call that shade? You like the seven, yeah? That was good, that was good. Well done.”
“That was one of the worst days of my life and you were responsible for that.”
“I tried my best,” Van Dijk laughed.
Pinero and his fellow United fans will have to wait until December 16 to hope their side can avenge last season’s loss at Anfield, having not won at the ground since 2015. On that day, Juan Mata scored twice – including a stunning bicycle kick in the second half.
Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah starred during his side’s 2-0 win over Union SG in the Europa League – and a compilation of the wonderkid’s performance shows just how impressive he was.
Quansah was starting his first Europa League game, and his second competitive fixture as a senior player at Anfield.
The 20-year-old has already shown he isn’t overawed by the step up to top level football, having spent the second half of last season on loan at League One side Bristol Rovers.
A left-footed central defender, the England youth international replaced Virgil van Dijk for a Premier League clash against Wolves last month, with the Dutchman out through suspension.
Quansah impressed in that game in what was an otherwise shaky Liverpool defensive display generally. He then assisted a goal when handed his next start, in the 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Leicester.
Liverpool supporters have long called for a new centre-back to be signed as competition for Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip and Van Dijk – but the club may well have found a solution that is already part of the squad.
Now, a compilation have been posted showing off the performances of Quansah and defensive partner Konate against Union SG.
Another comp, meanwhile, posted by SK Prods, shows extended highlights of the defender’s display.
The clips show the 20-year-old as comfortable on the left side of defence, stepping up into midfield on occasion and pinging long range passes to Liverpool’s attackers.
He showed no fear when required to tackle or get involved with aerial duels, and looked comfortable on the ball in a number of tight situations.
You can watch the compilations below.
Speaking about Quansah after the win, manager Jurgen Klopp said (quotes via Liverpool Echo): “I was not in doubt that he was ready [to start the game]. It’s all because of him.
“It was not a difficult decision to line him up tonight. He is still young, we have a really good football team together, which means he will get minutes.
“He will play U21s as well. That is nice to see, it’s a joy to watch his development since he is properly with us.
“He is a really good footballer, on the ball, outstanding. The chance of Mo [Salah] in the first half, he could have got the assist. It was top defending, really quick thinking, stepping into it.
“He will feel rather good, I would say, and rightly so.”
Liverpool had nothing to show from their Premier League weekend clash against Tottenham Hotspur after a controversial defeat – and Darwin Nunez cut a frustrated figure at full-time.
Spurs beat the Reds 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Saturday evening Premier League clash which saw Jurgen Klopp’s side end the game with only nine men.
Curtis Jones was shown a first half red card as Liverpool were reduced to 10 men, before Luis Diaz appeared to have put the Anfield side ahead.
The linesman flagged the goal offside, but controversially VAR did not intervene as it should have done and allowed the goal to stand.
The PGMOL have subsequently confirmed it was in fact onside, and that the goal should have stood, leaving Reds supporters frurious.
Spurs then took the lead after Diaz’s strike was ruled out when Son Heung-min slotted home, but Liverpool equalised in first half stoppage time thanks to Cody Gakpo’s finish on the turn.
Klopp’s side went down to nine men when Diogo Jota was shown two yellow cards in quick succession with around 20 minutes remaining.
It looked like the spoils were going to be shared, only for Spurs to collect all three points when deep into injury time, Liverpool defender Joel Matip turned Pedro Porro’s cross into his own net as Spurs picked up a dramatic late three points in north London.
Nunez was an unused substitute in the clash, but probably would have featured had Liverpool not lost a player or two.
At full-time, Nunez made his way onto the pitch and looked as though he was making a beeline for referee Simon Hooper, following his eventful performance in the middle.
However, a member of Klopp’s coaching staff, Vitor Matos, followed Nunez onto the pitch and spent some time talking to the forward, seemingly defusing any prospect of the Uruguayan causing further damage.
And fans have taken to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter to have their say on Matos’s decision to manage Nunez.
@ArtGridGoal wrote: “Darwin was about to headbutt the referee.”
@Pavst4r posted: “2 things here – Darwin is one funny guy. Secondly this is quality man management from Vitor Matos.”
@ROWgaming8 wrote: “Darwin is furious broo.”
@simbagavi_ posted: “I don’t doubt that he would cause some problems.”
@isabelcliu wrote: “We’d had got 3 red cards if he had played. Bro had every right to do something stupid.”
@Mopinions1 posted: “We would’ve lost him for 5 games mate so probably the best decision there.”
@averysadlfcfan wrote: “If Vitor wasn’t there…”
Liverpool fans are loving Darwin Nunez’s reaction to their unjust defeat against Tottenham on Sunday.
The Reds were on the receiving end of a hugely unfortunate 2-1 defeat to Spurs, after Joel Matip diverted a cross into the roof of his own net in the dying embers of stoppage time.
VAR was not on Jurgen Klopp’s side, either, after a number of contentious decisions didn’t go their way. Most notably, VAR incorrectly ruled Luis Diaz’s first half goal offside, after a miscommunication with referee Simon Hooper.
But despite the decisions against them, and being reduced to nine men, the Liverpool players made their fans proud after a monumental effort at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
And supporters were particularly impressed with Nunez’s reaction after the game, when he came over to greet the supporters.
Although he didn’t make it off the bench, the Uruguayan fist pumped the air and pointed to the Liverpool badge in a display of passion. You can watch the footage below.
“Knows what it means to be a red, fights for everything,” another added.
“Class Darwin NUNEZ … from an arsenal fan, love the spirit,” a third chimed in.
“He literally is one of us. That energy!!!!!” a fourth exclaimed.
“That’s why he should be starting for me. Loves this team,” a fifth remarked.
The players will feel incredibly hard done by after the PGMOL confirmed that VAR’s decision to rule out Luis Diaz’s first half goal was incorrect.
However, Klopp admitted he was “proud” of his players for their determination and spirit.
Speaking after the game, the Reds boss said: “Football is a result game, we all know that. But if you can’t get a result, it’s all about the performance, what can you take from it.
“And I have never been more proud than my team than today. I never saw a game like this with the most unfair circumstances, crazy decisions.”
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