‘A bit naughty’…Gary Neville says second Liverpool player could have seen red v Arsenal today

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Liverpool were beaten today by Arsenal as the Gunners edged out a tense affair at The Emirates this afternoon live on Sky.

Mikel Arteta’s side were fast out of the blocks but found themselves 1-1 at half-time after a disastrous mistake from William Saliba and Gabriel allowed Liverpool back in.

However, in the second half, Arsenal got themselves going again and fought back to win after Liverpool made mistakes themselves.

One of the turning points in the game came when Ibrahima Konate was sent off. However, while the Frenchman rightly saw red, Gary Neville felt Virgil van Dijk was also lucky to escape seeing a red as well.

In a battle with Kai Havertz, Van Dijk appeared to swing a bit of a leg at the German and Neville, commentating on Sky Sports, felt the Dutchman knew exactly what he was doing.

“I think he’s a bit naughty there Van Dijk. I think he’s going to get away with it but I think he knows what he’s doing. Yeah, he just swings that right leg there. It’s naughty that,” Neville said.

Van Dijk all over the place

This was not a night for the Liverpool defender to remember. Not only was he all over the place for the second goal but even on the third, he trudged across like he was nowhere near ready.

Alisson had a nightmare in the sticks as well but a lot of it stemmed from Van Dijk being so uncharacteristically poor.

Put simply, Liverpool need better from one of their best players in games like this and as Neville says, he showed some petulance here trying to leave one on Kai Havertz.

Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp need better from a player who has been so so reliable over the years.

Any more of this, and Liverpool’s title hopes will fade quickly.