Virgil van Dijk has given away the most penalties of any Premier League player this season after conceding a bizarre spot-kick in Liverpool’s clash with PSV.
Van Dijk was penalised for a clear handball just five minutes into the Champions League tie at home to the Dutch side.
The Liverpool defender rose to defend a cross and blocked the ball with his hand, which was raised high above his head.
Van Dijk protested, seemingly claiming he was fouled, but the decision to award the penalty was upheld by VAR and Ivan Perisic converted the resulting spot-kick to give PSV a surprise 1-0 lead.
It is the third penalty the struggling 34-year-old has conceded this season – the most of any Premier League player, according to Opta.
Van Dijk was guilty of conceding a penalty in Liverpool’s defeat by Crystal Palace in the Community Shield in August, bringing down Ismaila Sarr.
Virgil van Dijk gave away a bizarre penalty early on in Liverpool’s clash with PSV
Van Dijk protested the decision, seemingly claiming he was fouled, but the penalty was given
He was then adjudged to have fouled Dango Ouattara in the Reds’ 3-2 reverse at Brentford in October after the VAR intervened and said the challenge occurred inside the box, with the referee initially having given a free-kick.
Van Dijk would have been relieved to see Dominik Szoboszlai equalise against PSV 10 minutes after Perisic’s penalty, but the visitors retook the lead through Guus Til in the second half.
Liverpool had lost six of their last seven matches coming into the match, heaping pressure on Arne Slot.
Van Dijk described the team as a ‘mess’ after a 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
‘We are definitely letting him (Slot) down but we’ve let ourselves down as well,’ he said.
‘You look at yourself first and then you help each other, you help each other get out of this mess because at the moment it is a mess – that’s just a fact. As the champions we can’t be in the situation we are in right now but it’s a fact.
‘What are we going to do about it? We’re going to try to turn it around and that’s the mentality everyone should have.’
Van Dijk has come under criticism for his own performances this season, notably from Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, who questioned the Dutch defender’s leadership skills and body language.
