Liverpool were lucky to avoid going down to 10 men after a clash between Virgil van Dijk and Richarlison during their 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett told Football Insider that Liverpool’s No.4 should have been sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO). Arne Slot’s side had taken the lead through a superb free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai, with help from goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, but conceded a late equaliser in the 90th minute.
With eight Premier League games remaining and pressure already mounting on Slot, a red card for Van Dijk could have added to Liverpool’s concerns on Sunday, 15 March.
The key moment came in the 55th minute when Richarlison looked set to break through and score past Alisson Becker, only to be pulled off balance inside the box as he attempted his shot.
Hackett criticised the decision, saying Van Dijk clearly held and affected the attacker, making it a penalty and a denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity. He questioned why the incident was overlooked, especially with VAR available.
Meanwhile, fans across the Premier League have widely reacted by claiming Van Dijk is no longer at his peak, pointing to his struggle against the 34-year-old Richarlison. Some Liverpool supporters also echoed similar concerns about Mohamed Salah, despite his recent two-year contract extension.
There is also a feeling among fans that Richarlison could have made a bigger impact on Van Dijk’s reputation had he scored, with many arguing the defender should have been sent off regardless. Despite the criticism, Liverpool are expected to keep Van Dijk until his contract runs out in 2027, although situations in football can change quickly.
