BBC pundit suggests Virgil van Dijk’s cunning plan handed Liverpool victory vs Atletico Madrid

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Virgil van Dijk was the hero as Liverpool left it late to grab a 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.

No Liverpool fan will dare leave a game early this season after seeing Arne Slot’s Reds become late-show specialists.

Just days after another late goal to beat Burnley, Liverpool were at it again as Virgil van Dijk headed home to secure a 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid.

Throwing away a 2-0 lead won’t go down well with Slot, but Liverpool managed to find the win as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz caught the eye.

• READ MORE: Rafael Benitez shares what ‘Newcastle United people’ have told him about Alexander Isak to Liverpool

BBC pundit claims Virgil van Dijk’s cunning plan worked for Liverpool

Liverpool raced into a 2-0 lead, but wasted chances to kill the game off before Atletico roared back.

Atletico’s first goal should have been disallowed for offside, and Marcos Llorente’s deflected equaliser left Liverpool staring down the barrel of a frustrating draw.

However, Van Dijk planted a powerful header beyond Jan Oblak to win the game for Liverpool in front of the Kop.

The Dutchman appeared to be a little frustrated late on, appealing for fouls and handballs inside the penalty area.

Referee Maurizio Mariani was unmoved, and Van Dijk was seen telling the Italian to keep an eye on Atletico defenders fouling him.

Pundit Leon Osman now believes that this was all a cunning plan from Van Dijk to gain separation from Atletico defenders.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Osman suggested that Van Dijk’s complaints to the referee were a ploy to ensure Atletico defenders weren’t marking him as tightly as on previous set pieces.

Osman praised Van Dijk for bullying Robin Le Normand to power the ball home, suggesting that his plan worked to perfection.

“Virgil van Dijk was on to the referee at previous corners about being fouled to basically get his space, to make sure he wasn’t marked too tightly,” said Osman.

“It worked, and it got him the room he needed. Then he bullies his man for his goal,” he added.

• READ MORE: Liverpool fans have already spotted something really exciting about Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz

Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk as exceptional as ever at 34

Some may have wondered whether Van Dijk would begin to slow down a little, having turned 34 over the summer.

Any such suggestion has now been completely destroyed, as Van Dijk has been absolutely colossal this season.

Van Dijk manhandled Viktor Gyokeres in Liverpool’s win over Arsenal, showed exceptional composure to defend big spaces against Burnley and then buried the winner against Atletico.

Liverpool’s defensive structure still needs to improve, but Van Dijk has been one of their star men to start the season.

Few top Premier League defenders have performed at this level at 34 and Van Dijk’s displays this season should be given enormous praise.