Liverpool suffered a 2-1 defeat, at the hands of Manchester United.
Virgil van Dijk’s questionable defending for the first Manchester United goal has been widely mocked on social media.
In modern football, the switch from hero to villain, and back again, can be shorter that 90 minutes.
Take Lisandro Martinez and Raphaël Varane, for example. Last weekend, both were being written off or mocked after either under-performing in a 4-0 loss to Brentford or riding the pine for the worst of it.
Then, nine days later, United beat Liverpool and both men are being lauded, along with young left-back Tyrrell Malacia:
This Man United trio is ready to lock up attacks 🔐 pic.twitter.com/Mxr3hgPyvO
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 23, 2022
Remember, this tweet has been insanely liked after the defenders failed to keep a clean sheet against a Liverpool team without Diogo Jota or the suspended Darwin Nunez. Imagine the reaction if they keep Southampton scoreless, this weekend.
At Old Trafford, on Monday night, Virgil van Dijk received a grilling from captain James Milner after his side went behind to an early Jadon Sancho goal.
Milner, having a go at Van Dijk for Sancho doing him dirty and not covering up. 😂q pic.twitter.com/dZR02JB6MY
— Selassie K. 🇬🇭🇷🇼🇿🇦 (@broos_selasi) August 22, 2022
United, after losing their opening two games of the Premier League season, were the sharper of the sides at Old Trafford, and deservedly took the lead after 15 minutes.
A nice passing interchange between new United signings Tyrrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen teed up Sancho in the centre of the Liverpool box. Alisson committed himself to an early dive, and Milner slid in to block a shot that never came.
In between both men was Van Dijk. The Dutch centre-back stood with his arms behind his back and failed to close down Sancho before he slotted home.
That composure 🤤
Calm as you like from Jadon Sancho and Manchester United lead at Old Trafford! 💥 pic.twitter.com/7ZkB2jf1FO
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 22, 2022
Unfortunately for Van Dijk his unusual way of defending, in particular the stance he took, has been ridiculed and transformed into memes.
Some of which are pretty brutal!
Such a great goal from Sancho and it's even better from this angle. Look how he masterfully curled the ball around Van Dijk's Aura. pic.twitter.com/8uoNWR8LEQ
— Tom (@TomLevins1) August 22, 2022
https://twitter.com/Grov_esy/status/1561812198430736385?s=20&t=KSWaYor_uD-7ViAOtoEjhA
I’m in tears. Van Dijk has been cooked today 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/rMLqkHLcsU
— 𝐄𝐑 (@ErlingRoIe) August 22, 2022
Van Dijk when it’s time to commit a tackle pic.twitter.com/Kv0MzXbNhH
— Raf (@CFCRaf2) August 22, 2022
Van Dijk using the smell of his Dior Sauvage to stop Sancho from shooting pic.twitter.com/N8ciR8tMM5
— RZ (@rxlfpacked) August 22, 2022
The only crumb of comfort for van Dijk is knowing that one good performance later and he will have plenty of social media stans ready to go to work on his behalf.
Related links:
- Roy Keane and Cristiano Ronaldo share moment ahead of Man United-Liverpool clash
- Roy Keane creases up Jurgen Klopp with classic call-back remark
- Erik ten Hag makes tough but necessary calls as Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire dropped
