Former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has blasted Virgil van Dijk for his role in striker Jordan Ayew being sent off in Crystal Palace’s 2-1 defeat by Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.
Ayew was handed his first yellow card in the match by referee Andy Madley for preventing Van Dijk from taking a quick free-kick, having been stood less than ten yards away.
He was then given a second yellow card after a foul on youngster Harvey Elliott during a counterattack. The red card came at a time when Liverpool were trailing 1-0 behind, and the result of Crystal Palace being reduced to ten men saw the Reds come from behind to win the game.
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What did Roy Hodgson say about Virgil van Dijk?
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Hodgson could not hide his frustration after the game at Selhurst Park, taking aim at Van Dijk. He told reporters after the game: “Van Dijk took the opportunity to get him the first yellow card, which was very disappointing,” the Palace boss told TNT Sports. “The second one I thought was a good challenge, even if it was deemed a foul, it wasn’t a yellow.”
“I’ve been in football a long time, games like today make me realise when I come to leave it behind, I won’t be missing it. I’ve never had any doubts about the players, we are going through a bad spell but I’ve had no worries about the rest of the season,” he said.
“Refereeing and the ref’s incentives. I’m sick of the handball’s interpretations, I’m sick of time-wasting and player behaviour. [On VAR] I’m not a great lover of it, it’s less bothering than handball decisions. What I really don’t understand is we’ve got a referee, who made his presence felt, he gives a clear penalty then decides to change and then no penalty for the second and decides to change it. Who is refereeing the game? I’m in a bad mood.”