Jamie Carragher stunned by Virgil van Dijk
- by Israel Caldwell
- in Sports
- — Aug 22, 2018
Adding insult to injury for Palace, Salah was involved in another controversy in the second half when he went to ground after a challenge from Palace defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who was sent off even though there was minimal contact.
"As a result he caught the player and the referee was right to send him off".
'Over the next three or four years, if Liverpool could win a league or a Champions League, I think Van Dijk has the potential to actually go down alongside Alan Hansen if we're talking about Liverpool's best ever teams - that's how good he is and how good he can become.
Palace went forward with everything to get the equalizer, and Mane chose to put matters into his own hand, finding the back of the net for the third straight match against Palace. It's a cause for frustration and anger.
Klopp's side ran out comfortable winners on the night after goals from James Milner and Sadio Mane but the scoreline didn't reflect the competitive nature of the game. If that's a penalty, then the game has changed beyond all recognition. There's no way [Sakho] is looking to foul the player. Sakho is a defender and he has to try and defend. I didn't see it. He definitely touches him so there's no question it was a sending off, but I don't think he was looking to clip his heels - he was genuinely trying to get his foot on the ball but didn't succeed. I shall never accept that's a penalty.
Hodgson said he would be very disappointed if his team got a penalty the way Salah did.
Jurgen Klopp claimed not to see the penalty incident but was pleased his side came through a tough assignment in south London. "I was not 100 percent sure tonight in the first half that we would score", said the German. "Together with Virgil, they have a very good understanding - on a personal level as well and that's really cool".
Many people scoffed when the Reds splashed £75m on Van Dijk in January but the improvements have been there for all to see as Liverpool have kept nine clean sheets in his sixteen Premier League appearances, conceding only ten goals.
Manchester United tried to beat Liverpool to the signing of defender Virgil van Dijk by making a last-minute approach, but the player was undergoing his medical with the Reds.
