Virgil Van Dijk: Manchester United Disrespected Before A Draw Against Liverpool

JAKARTA - Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said he believed Manchester United were not respected before drawing 2-2 against the Reds on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at Anfield.

An equalizer in the final minutes of Amad Diallo thwarted Liverpool's victory after Arne Slot's team turned things around through goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah to respond to the visitors' early lead through Lisandro Martinez.

The hope ahead of the game is that Liverpool leaders will easily beat Manchester United, who have lost three games in a row before their trip to Merseyside.

However, Ruben Amorim's troops performed with the most impressive performance this season to keep their distance from Liverpool.

Van Dijk also admitted that he felt the media underestimated Manchester United before the match.

"Do I feel Manchester United are not respected? Yes. I heard at a press conference someone asked if we were going to rotate the players against Manchester United."

"I was surprised. It's one of the biggest games of the season and Manchester United will always be difficult. Hearing that, I was surprised."

"We played tough opponents. I think everyone from the outside world forgot based on the news circulating before the game."

"They have good players. They are obviously in the process like us, but they made it difficult for us," said Van Dijk after the match.

Van Dijk also defended team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold, who faced criticism for his less excited performance against Manchester United.

Both Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold with Salah will have their contracts expire at the end of this season, but that right-back is the center of recent transfer speculation.

Real Madrid approached Liverpool last week to sign Alexander-Arnold in the January 2025 transfer window. Even so, Los Blancos' offer was quickly rejected by the Reds.

Some fans and experts said Alexander-Arnold's disappointing appearance on Sunday was linked to news surrounding his future, but Van Dijk disagreed.

"No. I'm fine with it. Trent is surrounded by his own people, his family, and we are also there."

"He wants to do his best as we all do. That's the main focus. In my opinion, maybe just ask him, that's what distracts us, the game," said the centre-back.