Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has shed light on the controversial penalty decision that played a key role in Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to Brentford, their fourth consecutive Premier League loss.
The decisive moment came midway through the second half when Van Dijk was penalized for a foul on Dango Outtara. Initially, the referee awarded a free-kick outside the box, but after a VAR review, the decision was changed to a penalty — a call that left both Van Dijk and Liverpool players frustrated.
“The referee indicated that the ball was on the line and then marked the spot two meters outside the box,” Van Dijk explained after the match. “I wasn’t sure what was going on. Eventually, he gave the penalty, which obviously wasn’t ideal for us.”
That penalty helped Brentford secure their third goal and ultimately the victory, deepening Liverpool’s struggles in recent weeks.
Reflecting on the match, Van Dijk admitted his disappointment and emphasized that Liverpool must find a way to turn things around quickly.
“I’m disappointed with the loss. We knew what Brentford would bring, and we had to be sharp because of their quality. It’s a tough one to take, but that’s the reality — we have to keep going.”
In his post-match comments to TNT Sports, Van Dijk urged his teammates to refocus ahead of their next game against Crystal Palace, a side that has already caused them problems earlier in the season.
“It’s a tough moment for us. We wanted to build on our performance against Frankfurt, but this wasn’t the night we hoped for. Now we need to shift our mindset and prepare for Palace. They’ll come to Anfield ready to take advantage of our situation, so we have to respond.”
Liverpool’s defensive fragility has become a growing concern. The Reds have managed just two clean sheets in 14 matches across all competitions this season, and Van Dijk admitted that he is struggling to understand why.
“It’s difficult to explain. We’ve gone nine games without a clean sheet. It’s easy to blame the defense or set pieces, but it’s a collective issue. Everyone, including myself, has to reflect. I’m confident we’ll come through this, but it won’t happen through talk alone — we need to show it on the pitch.”
Van Dijk ended with a message to Liverpool supporters, urging them to stand by the team during this difficult period.
“The fans were there for us when we were winning. Now we need them even more. We have the quality in this squad — in attack and defense — and I believe we’ll bounce back.”
Liverpool’s defeat to Brentford leaves them searching for answers ahead of a crucial stretch of fixtures, as pressure mounts on Arne Slot and his squad to halt their slump and rediscover their winning form.