Virgil van Dijk’s brutal gesture to Richarlison reminded followers the Liverpool captain is a cold-blooded phenom.
With the Reds down 1-0 on mixture to Tottenham going into the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, Van Dijk and his teammates knew they wanted a quick begin within the second leg at Anfield.
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Only a few would have anticipated that kind of begin would have included some critical shows of ruthless physicality from Liverpool.
As is commonly the case with captains, Van Dijk definitely led the best way on the bodily entrance.
Sadly for Tottenham’s Richarlison, he bore the brunt of it as early because the third minute.
Van Dijk and Richarlison tussled for the ball but it surely seemed just like the ahead would spin away from his marker.
However Van Dijk wasn’t about to let that occur and clattered into the Tottenham ace by shifting his total physique weight into the Brazilian.
Nevertheless, imaginative and prescient appeared to indicate Van Dijk had thudded his elbow into Richarlison’s chest as he went down in ache.
Fortunately for Van Dijk, the incident was checked and cleared by VAR.
But it was a separate flashpoint between the 2 that had followers in stitches on social media.
Richarlison was as soon as once more bundled to the bottom by Van Dijk, this time from behind.
The Liverpool skipper provided his hand to assist up his rival, however simply as Richarlison reached out his hand, Van Dijk pulled again and ran away.
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A handful of soccer supporters on X seen the second and provided hilarious reactions.
One person posted: “Van Dijk’s completely completed Richarlison.”
One other mentioned: “Van Dijk clowning Richarlison is totally sensible.”
One wrote: “Van Dijk did Richarlison soiled.”
Sadly for Richarlison, his sport lasted simply 45 minutes as he was taken off after he went right down to the bottom.
Richarlison’s exit did herald the arrival of electrical French expertise Mathys Tel for his Tottenham debut.
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The Brazilian’s substitution got here after Cody Gakpo struck within the thirty fourth minute to place Liverpool forward on the night time and stage the tie at 1-1.
Gakpo’s aim was a simply reward for the host’s efforts within the opening half as they took 11 pictures to Tottenham’s one.
Arne Slot’s aspect have additionally loved 73 per cent possession, with the guests having to repel wave after wave of Liverpool assaults.
Sadly for Tottenham, Gakpo’s was the primary of 4 targets conceded as Liverpool booked their spot in a 3rd Carabao Cup ultimate in 4 years.
