Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has spoken out about the controversial penalty decision that proved costly in the club’s 3–2 defeat to Brentford, explaining what the referee told him in the aftermath of the incident.
The moment came midway through the second half when Van Dijk fouled Dango Outtara near the edge of the penalty area. Initially, the referee awarded a free-kick to Brentford, but after a VAR review, the decision was overturned and upgraded to a penalty — a call that left Van Dijk and many Liverpool fans confused.
Speaking after the game, Van Dijk revealed:
“The referee told me that the ball was on the line, and that’s why he gave a penalty instead of a free-kick. I didn’t really know what was going on at the time. He first marked the foul outside the box, then changed his mind after speaking with VAR.”
The decision ultimately proved decisive, as Brentford converted from the spot to seal the victory, extending Liverpool’s losing streak in the Premier League.
Van Dijk expressed his frustration with the situation but emphasized that the team must move on and focus on improving their performances.
“It’s not ideal, of course. Moments like that can change the game completely. But we can’t dwell on it — we need to regroup and keep pushing forward. The results haven’t gone our way recently, but we have the quality to turn it around.”
The incident has reignited debate among fans and pundits about VAR’s role in tight penalty calls, particularly regarding where the foul occurred relative to the penalty area line.
Liverpool will now look to bounce back in their upcoming fixture against Crystal Palace, hoping to put an end to their recent poor run and restore confidence within the squad.