During Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Manchester United, footage emerged showing an incident between Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk and United’s goalkeeper André Onana. Liverpool dominated the match at Old Trafford, with Luis Diaz scoring twice and Mohamed Salah adding another goal, marking his 15th career goal against United. This result added to United’s struggles under Erik ten Hag, as the team fell to 14th place in the league standings, having earned just three points from their first three matches following consecutive defeats to Brighton and Liverpool.
The game was marked by several frustrating moments for Manchester United. One of the standout issues was Casemiro’s two significant turnovers, which directly led to Liverpool goals, showcasing defensive lapses that have troubled United this season. Additionally, Marcus Rashford faced criticism for his decision-making in attack, notably for choosing to pass backward instead of taking a more aggressive approach in front of goal. These mistakes underscored United’s broader challenges on the field, as they struggled to match Liverpool’s intensity and tactical execution.
A subtle but notable interaction occurred between Van Dijk and Onana that may have gone unnoticed by some viewers. During Liverpool’s corners, Van Dijk positioned himself close to Onana, prompting Diogo Dalot to try to keep him at a distance. In response, Onana, seemingly frustrated by Van Dijk’s presence, delivered a sharp elbow to the Liverpool captain’s stomach. Despite having reason to react angrily, Van Dijk maintained his composure, instead responding with a playful demeanor. He mockingly exaggerated the impact as if he had been significantly hurt, smiling broadly throughout the exchange. The two exchanged words but the situation did not escalate, and Van Dijk’s light-hearted reaction defused any potential tension.
The match also featured a heated exchange between Van Dijk and United defender Lisandro Martinez. Tensions boiled over shortly after Liverpool scored their first goal. In a moment of frustration, Martinez made a reckless challenge on Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, which saw Szoboszlai go down and resulted in Martinez receiving a yellow card from referee Anthony Taylor. Van Dijk, clearly displeased with Martinez’s aggression, confronted the United defender, engaging in a brief but intense verbal exchange despite the referee’s efforts to intervene. Van Dijk appeared to challenge Martinez by telling him, “Come try that with me,” highlighting the competitive edge and leadership Van Dijk brought to Liverpool’s performance.
Overall, Liverpool’s commanding performance under the guidance of manager Arne Slot was marked not just by their on-field dominance but also by Van Dijk’s leadership and composure in managing on-field confrontations. Despite the incidents, Liverpool maintained their focus and secured a convincing win over their rivals, further compounding United’s early-season woes.
