Featured
Virgil van Dijk disagrees with Premier League statement as Liverpool captain slams decision Virgil van Dijk speaks on Liverpool’s disallowed goal and more after a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday
Virgil van Dijk disagrees with Premier League statement as Liverpool captain slams decision
Virgil van Dijk speaks on Liverpool’s disallowed goal and more after a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday
was critical of the decision to disallow his goal(Image: Paul Currie/Shutterstock)
Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool were denied a legitimate goal at Manchester City as the reigning Premier League champions slipped to eighth in the table after a 3-0 defeat at the Etihad on Sunday. The Reds captain thought he had equalised after Erling Haaland had headed home the opening goal.
But the skipper’s leveller was chalked off with Andy Robertson judged to have been in an offside position and interfering with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s attempts to make the save.
The goal was disallowed, according to Premier League’s official Match Centre account, because Robertson was “deemed to be making an obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper”.
disagrees with that assessment while he accepts Pep Guardiola’s City were deserved winners on the day, the Reds’ centre-back says the decision changed the course of the game.
“I don’t know who was on the VAR, Michael Oliver? I think therefore, the officials at the stadium and the couple behind the screen have to make the right decisions for the game,” Van Dijk said.
“Today it was decided the goal wouldn’t stand because Andy Robertson was, for any reason, hindering Donnarumma but I think the goal should have stood, that is all I will say. But I am not the one who is making the decisions.
explanation] was just hindering the goalkeeper or something like that? But someone showed me a clip that Man City scored last year against Wolves and the referee was [Chris Kavanagh] back then as well.
“I don’t know, I’ve already said too much because the thing is, the decision has been made, we lost 3-0 and we don’t make excuses in that sense. We lost 3-0, we have to take it on the chin and move on. How tough it is is obviously a hit but we have to keep going.”
Van Dijk now heads off for Netherlands duty with the Reds eight points behind league leaders Arsenal and while international action affords the Liverpool squad the chance to move on from a chastening afternoon at the Etihad, there are lessons to be learned from a fifth defeat of the term, according to the club captain.
added: “You don’t forget about results like this. If you forget about these things then you don’t get better. You cannot only think about the good things all the time.
“You have to think about what went wrong today and how we can improve it. You have to feel that responsibility, I definitely do. What could we have done better? And you take that into the next games.
“I don’t think there is any reason to get carried away, we faced some difficult opponents this week and we got two wins from three and we have to just keep going. It’s a difficult season so far for many reasons but I am confident we can turn this around.
“It doesn’t happen overnight, we have to keep working and we need everyone to be fit to keep helping us, so that is the key for all of us in the dressing room.
“There’s no point looking at the table for us, that is it. I don’t think there is any point for us. If you lose as many games as we have lost, I don’t think we can look at the table at this point but I have been in the game quite a long time [to know] that seasons aren’t decided in November or December.
“It’s when it comes to March time, you know, April, when it starts to become very interesting how it all shapes up up there. We want to be there but there’s a long way to go and a lot of hard work to be put in.
“So we have to stay humble and we have to keep working and that is the only aim and the only thing we should focus on.
“[Recent results] is why it feels maybe a bit more disappointing at this point because you work so hard on those two games as a whole, as a team to get the clean sheet and the goals that we scored.
“At the end of the day, games – and especially these games – are decided by small margins. I think you can see there was some brilliance today, with the third goal especially from Doku, who is in the shape of his life, but the second goal was a little deflection which was unlucky and that is the reality.
everyone is going to their respective countries and they have to perform because there are still some big games left and many players still want to qualify for the World Cup and then when we come back, we have a big run of games where we need everyone in their best shape.
“And that is the opportunity that we are looking forward to as a team to show to our fans and ourselves what we have been doing in the last two games (before City). We want to find the consistency in order to be successful this season.”
Mikel Arteta could start 16-year-old in third-ro
Arsenal are expected to rotate when they travel to take on Portsmouth in the FA Cup.
It is the first of four away games in four competitions in the space of nine days and Mikel Arteta is set to make use of the strong squad available to him.
Why Oxford Street is so much more than a shopping destination
That could mean a first start for Eberechi Eze since the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace last month, while Noni Madueke is also in contention to come into the side.
Arsenal hope to have Kai Havertz in the squad but he is not believed to be ready to start, so Gabriel Jesus will likely lead the line unless Arteta opts to keep trying to play Viktor Gyokeres into form.
The Gunners will again be without Riccardo Calafiori, with Arteta confirming that this match will be “too early” for him.
Piero Hincapie is also a major doubt, having gone off against Liverpool with a suspected hamstring injury. He was due to undergo scans on Friday.
“We have to see the extent of what happened to Piero,” Arteta said.
“He could not carry on in the second half, so I don’t know exactly what it is.”
That leaves Myles Lewis-Skelly as the obvious starter at left-back and there could be an opportunity for 16-year-old Marli Salmon if Arteta decides to rest one of Gabriel or William Saliba.
Kepa will start in goal, as he has been doing in the Carabao Cup, and the likes of Christian Norgaard and Mikel Merino are options in midfield.
Ethan Nwaneri will hope for some minutes, even off the bench. He has not featured since the win over Club Brugge a month ago.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Kepa; White, Saliba, Salmon, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Merino, Eze; Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli
Injured: Calafiori, Mosquera, Dowman
Doubts: Hincapie, Havertz
Time and date: 2pm GMT on Sunday, January 11, 2026
How to watch: TNT Sports
Venue: Fratton Park
Featured
Arsenal injury, suspension list and return dates vs. Portsmouth: Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera latest
Arsenal will begin their bid to win the FA Cup for the 15th time in their history when they travel to Fratton Park for Sunday’s meeting with Championship strugglers Portsmouth.
The Gunners missed the chance to further extend their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table in Thursday’s underwhelming goalless draw against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
While their five-game winning league run came to an end, Mikel Arteta will be pleased with the fact that his side are now unbeaten in seven competitive matches ahead of Sunday’s cup tie and Wednesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of Arsenal’s latest injury and suspension news ahead of the clash with Portsmouth, who are languishing in 21st spot in the Championship standings.
Piero Hincapie
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)
Hincapie was forced off with what appeared to be a muscle problem in the 57th minute of Thursday’s draw with Liverpool. Arteta now faces a nervous wait to discover the full extent of the defender’s injury.
Kai Havertz
Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Match fitness
Possible return date: January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)
Havertz has recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of action for months. However, he has been left out of Arsenal’s last two matchday squads as he continues to build up his fitness. There is a possibility that the forward could make his first appearance since August in Sunday’s FA Cup clash.
Riccardo Calafiori
Status: Out
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: January 14 (vs. Chelsea)
Calafiori has sat out Arsenal’s last four matches with a muscle injury. The defender is making progress in his recovery, but he is not expected to be ready for the upcoming trip to the south coast.
Cristhian Mosquera
Status: Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date: January 14 (vs. Chelsea)
Like Calafiori, Mosquera is closing in on a return to action after missing over a month of action due to an ankle injury. However, the former Valencia defender will not be available for selection this weekend.
Max Dowman
Status: Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date: Unknown
Max Dowman is likely to be out until February after sustaining an ankle problem while playing for Arsenal Under-21s in last month’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United.
ARSENAL’S SUSPENSION LIST
Arsenal have no players suspended for the third-round tie.
Featured
Full confirmed list of Arsenal ins and outs in January transfer window as first deal announced
Arsenal transfer ins and outs as Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta get to work in the January window
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal remain in the driving seat to clinch the Premier League title crown this season – and they could strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad to bolster their chances.
Phillip Schofield’s latest replacement revealed as Holly Willoughby gets new co-host
Whether or not the right players are out there remains to be seen, but with Arteta enduring several injury blows already this season – particularly in defence – the manager will be keeping a close eye on potential targets.
The Gunners splashed the cash in the summer, bringing in the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera to the Emirates Stadium – so a loan deal might favour the club
Gabriel Martinelli ban and fine verdicts as FA make punishment decision on Arsenal ace
There could also be high-profile exits, both loans and permanent deals, with young midfield talent Ethan Nwaneri linked with an exit. Other youngsters could also make loan moves to get a taste of first-team football.
With that said, football.london takes a closer look at all the moves completed by Arsenal so far this January.
-
Featured3 months agoVAR AND REFEREE ERROR Why Manchester United goal stood despite head injury to Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister
-
ARSENAL'3 months agoArsenal’s next five fixtures compared to Liverpool and Man City after Crystal Palace win
-
Liverpool3 months agoPremier League explains two controversial Liverpool penalty decisions as referee replaced
-
ARSENAL INJURY UPDATE2 months agoGabriel Jesus training footage sends clear message to Mikel Arteta ahead of Tottenham clash
-
Featured2 months agocentre-backs available THIS SUMMER for Liverpool FC
-
Arsenal predicted XI3 months agoFulham 0-1 Arsenal 69: NO PENALTY! Finally the decision is made. Anthony Taylor steps away from the screen and announces that Kevin played the ball. It seemed pretty clear but it took an age to get there.
-
Liverpool3 months agoGOAL! Brentford 2-1 Liverpool | Kerkez ’45+5
-
Arsenal predicted XI3 months agoFormer Arsenal star training with first-team ahead of Atletico Madrid