Van Dijk blasts striker after ‘dive’ for penalty
Dutchman insists he did not foul in final minute Pochettino happy with ‘character’ of officials
Tottenham were embroiled in a cheat storm at Anfield as Virgil van Dijk accused Harry Kane of diving and Erik Lamela of conning his side to a controversial point.
A breathless finale to the 2-2 draw brought recrimination, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp suggesting he would be forced to “pay the biggest fine in world football” if he expressed the extent of his fury at the 94th-minute penalty decision that denied his side victory.
Van Dijk, who was penalised for a challenge on Lamela, felt referee Jon Moss was tricked twice.
As well as the crucial Lamela decision, he said Spurs striker Kane dived for an earlier spot-kick. Kane missed the first.
“I think it is a dive. You see him (Kane) diving clearly and no one is talking about that. But I think it is a dive,” said Van Dijk.
“There is a lot of discussion about whether it is offside, yes or no, but I think it was offside as well. I thought it was a dive. You could just see him making that dive. That is my opinion and the referee thought it was no offside and no dive and he gave a pen.
“There were loads of things going on. I think the first goal was offside and then (for the second one) it is a decision the ref already made and the ref is closer than the linesman. Unlucky, I think. I thought it was a bit harsh.
“I see him coming in the end and I try and hold my leg in. He just pulled his body in front of the ball and he goes down. The ref said play on and I was very disappointed that the linesman said otherwise.
“First of all it was offside and secondly he just put his body in front of me. I don’t think that is a penalty and the same with the first one. That is also clearly not a penalty.”
Klopp and Spurs’ coach Mauricio Pochettino offered vastly different interpretations of the extraordinary Anfield climax. The Liverpool coach did not hold back, although he said he would have to bite his tongue. Asked if he was angry, Klopp said: “I am. But obviously I can’t change anything. So what’s my job now? To create headlines? To be punished? To pay a fine? If I say what I think I would pay the biggest fine in world football.
“I have no problem with people making mistakes. But if you don’t see the situation, then step aside.
“It’s not a penalty. I’ve heard Lamela was offside with one leg, running into Virgil van Dijk. Virgil sees him at the last moment, stops the movement but still touches him. Lamela is already on the way down.
“The referee says to keep on going, and the linesman makes the decision.
“It was obviously not his day. The first penalty was one of the clearest offside situations I have seen. Unless there’s a new rule. When the ball left the foot of the Tottenham player, Harry Kane is offside. This situation has never changed. Dejan touched it. My defence put Kane offside, that’s good defending. I don’t know what they discussed, I would be really interested what the referee and assistant were saying.
“At the end, I’ve learned something new and now people will think I know nothing about football because I thought it was offside.
“But the second one, it’s not about who is where. In the 93rd minute, you whistle a penalty when you are 100 per cent sure.
“It’s clear in these situations the opposition wants to go down.”
Pochettino praised the character of Moss and assistant Edward Smart, as well as Kane who struck his 100th Premier League goal. “It was difficult to know if they were right and when I saw in the dressing room we confirmed they were right,” Pochettino said.
The Spurs boss also said Lovren’s touch was critical before the first penalty. “If (Dejan) Lovren does not touch the ball it is offside,” he said.
“The second is clear how Van Dijk kicked Lamela inside the box.”