OUT OF LINE? Liverpool's Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk had some belittling comments about Everton after the sides drew in their Premier League clash on Wednesday. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP
Image: Paul Ellis/AFP
Merseyside derbies are normally known to be fiery affairs, but what skipper Virgil van Dijk said following his side’s shock 2-2 Premier League draw with Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday left an incredibly bitter taste in this Liverpool supporter’s mouth.
Liverpool are the favourites to win the league at seven points ahead at the top of the table with 14 games remaining, while Everton are well down in 15th position.
For that reason alone, Liverpool were expected to beat their struggling derby rivals and the result was seemingly headed their way with the final whistle approaching at 2-1 up.
Everton would have the last laugh though as James Tarkowski rescued the hard-fought point for The Toffees eight minutes into added time.
In fact both teams had players sent off after that as Abdoulaye Doucoure for Everton and Liverpool’s Curtis Jones saw red.
As tensions boiled over at the final whistle, Everton were clearly the happier side as their celebrations poured over onto the pitch.
After the match, Van Dijk said: "This is their cup final and they would try to do everything in their power to make it difficult for us. It is a big boost for them but a blow for us.”
For me, that’s an incredibly arrogant and belittling statement to make. Even if he was still smarting after his Liverpool side had the win snatched away from them, in a dramatic conclusion to the game.
Van Dijk also criticised the refereeing, but that’s more common for a frustrated footballer after a result didn’t go his way.
What I can’t accept is how dismissive Van Dijk was of an Everton side which clearly does not have the quality of his Liverpool as their log position suggests, but who were still able to compete with the best team in the land on the night.
A gracious victor, or in this case a player from a side who scored the same number of goals as the opposition could give some credit where it’s due. Instead his first move was to insult the side and infer they were not on the same level as Liverpool.
It reminded me of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo’s comments at Euro 2016 when Iceland unexpectedly drew with his mighty nation.
Ronaldo said: "I thought they'd won the Euros the way they celebrated at the end, it was unbelievable," Ronaldo said.
"When they don't try to play and just defend, defend, defend, this in my opinion shows a small mentality and are not going to do anything in the competition.”
For me, the comments of Ronaldo and Van Dijk are examples of the height of conceit and a terrible example set by ambassadors of the game of football.
Maybe I’m expecting too much, but all I’m asking is for these players to show a little common decency and humility.
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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