Virgil Van Dijk likely to be banned after misbehaving with the referee after teammate was booked-reports has announced That is such a harsh ban! 😱

Virgil van Dijk has faced criticism for being “salty” following his remarks about Everton after Liverpool’s dramatic late draw in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

Liverpool seemed poised for victory when Mohamed Salah netted his 22nd Premier League goal in the 73rd minute, giving them a 2-1 lead. Everton, struggling to mount a response, looked set for defeat until a last-gasp moment turned the game around.

In stoppage time, Everton’s captain, James Tarkowski, stunned the visitors with a stunning volley past Alisson Becker, igniting celebrations among the home fans. A prolonged VAR review examined a possible offside and a foul by Beto on Ibrahima Konate, but the goal was ultimately upheld, securing Everton a dramatic equalizer.

Tensions boiled over at the final whistle when Abdoulaye Doucoure taunted Liverpool’s traveling supporters, prompting Curtis Jones to retaliate with a shove. This sparked a heated confrontation between both teams, resulting in red cards for Doucoure and Jones. Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, were also sent off for their conduct towards referee Michael Oliver.

With Slot unavailable for post-match interviews due to his red card, Van Dijk stepped in to speak with TNT Sports.

The Dutch defender voiced his frustration over Oliver’s officiating, claiming the referee lost control of the match. He also expressed discontent over Everton’s equalizer, insisting it was scored beyond the allocated stoppage time.

Van Dijk further took a dig at Everton, implying that they treated the derby as a particularly significant fixture.

“This is their cup final, and they would do everything possible to make it tough for us. It’s a massive boost for them but disappointing for us,” he remarked.

His comments quickly stirred reactions online, with many accusing him of poor sportsmanship.

One user on X criticized: “Awful post-match interview from Van Dijk. He sounds bitter and like a sore loser. You have to show class no matter the result!”

Another wrote: “Van Dijk is so salty. ‘This is their cup final’—he’s not wrong, but still.”

A third commented: “Serious salt from Van Dijk in that interview.”

A fourth added: “This is embarrassing. He’s never gracious.”

After going two matches without a win, Liverpool will aim to bounce back when they face Wol

ves at Anfield on Sunday.