Virgil van Dijk has now conceded as many penalties this season as he did in his first seven and a half YEARS at Liverpool and the worrying trend shows no sign of stopping after another spot kick gift to Manchester City.
The Reds skipper was guilty of upending Nico O’Reilly inside the box during Saturday’s FA Cup quarter final thrashing at the Etihad. It was the fourth penalty he has conceded in 46 appearances this term.
Let that sink in. Four.
Before this season, over 318 games for Liverpool, he had given away four penalties. Total. Father Time, it seems, is undefeated.
At 35, the sharpness both mental and physical is not quite what it was. Van Dijk also got it wrong for City’s third goal, attempting to play offside when he should have just dropped. It was the kind of mistake you never used to see from him.
It hasn’t helped that the skipper has had to carry this Liverpool side on and off the pitch for most of the campaign. Even at his peak, that was a tall order. At 35, with the legs going and the penalties mounting up, it looks like a burden too far.
Konate bullied, midfield flimsy
Van Dijk wasn’t alone in his misery. Ibrahima Konate was bullied by Erling Haaland for a headed goal again. The Frenchman just cannot cope with the Norwegian’s physicality, and City know it.
The defensive midfield cover started strongly but fell apart either side of half time. And City scoring twice from Liverpool throw ins? Unforgivable. You cannot gift goals like that at this level and expect to get away with it.
How can the Reds achieve anything when they seem so determined on self sabotage?
Salah’s unhappy farewell
So begins the long goodbye for Mohamed Salah. And on this evidence, it is going to feel very, very long indeed.
In his first appearance since announcing his end of season departure, the travelling Kop sung his name inside 14 minutes. Moments later, he was almost on the scoresheet, denied only by a vital touch from Abdukodir Khusanov.
Then came the penalty. Salah stepped up. James Trafford City’s reserve keeper saved. It summed up a dismal afternoon.
To be fair, Salah looked more involved than he has in recent league outings. He was denied by another Trafford save and then wasteful from a similar position shortly after. But this wasn’t the way he would have wanted to bow out at the Etihad.
City will be glad to see the back of him. Liverpool fans will be gutted it is ending like this.
Alonso talk can wait
The final whistle had barely sounded when the video emerged. Thousands of Liverpool fans had already left the Etihad and those who remained could be heard chanting one name.
Xabi Alonso.
The former Liverpool midfielder has been continually linked with a return to Anfield after being sacked by Real Madrid. Results like this will only intensify the speculation.
But here is the thing. The concentration for the Reds now has to be on the Champions League both progressing in this season’s competition and ensuring qualification for the next.
And if you are clutching at straws, there was at least something in that opening half hour at the Etihad. Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike both roamed with intent. Liverpool looked dangerous going forward.
If Liverpool aren’t the team of last season, neither are Paris Saint Germain. And if this campaign has taught us one thing, it is that anything is up for grabs. The consistency just isn’t there across Europe.
But that feels like cold comfort after an afternoon when Van Dijk gave away another penalty, Salah missed one, and the away end spent the second half singing about a manager who isn’t even in the building.
