Virgil van Dijk has criticized referee Tony Harrington, suggesting that he appeared too “nervous” to manage Liverpool’s intense 2-2 draw with Fulham at Anfield effectively.
The Reds, reduced to 10 men after Andy Robertson’s red card in the 17th minute, fought back twice in a match filled with controversial calls. Fulham initially took the lead through Andreas Pereira, but Liverpool, with 16 shots and an expected goals (xG) of 2.26, could have secured all three points on a different day.
Robertson’s red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity seemed straightforward, but frustration grew over earlier incidents. Issa Diop’s strong tackle on Robertson in the second minute earned just a yellow card, while Pereira’s reckless challenge on Ryan Gravenberch moments later also received only a yellow.
Former referee Mike Dean argued that Pereira should have been sent off, calling the challenge a “100% red card.”
After the match, Van Dijk expressed his disappointment with the refereeing. “We fought hard with 10 men and created plenty of chances, but it feels like we could have had more,” he said.
He added, “I thought the referee was nervous and struggled to communicate with Robertson. While we can’t blame him entirely, it was still frustrating.”
Despite his frustrations, Van Dijk urged the team to move forward, saying, “We’ll take the point, recover, and focus on Wednesday’s game.”
Although the draw was a missed opportunity, the match highlighted Liverpool’s resilience and adaptability in tough circumstances.
