Virgil van Dijk criticised Liverpool for being “wasteful” in their 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Liverpool controlled proceedings in the first half — registering 15 shots to United’s zero — but the visitors failed to translate that dominance into goals.
Luis Diaz’s 28th-minute strike gave Liverpool a deserved 1-0 advantage at the break, but two long-range efforts from Bruno Fernandes and then Kobbie Mainoo gave United a second-half lead against the run of play.
Mohamed Salah’s 84th-minute penalty salvaged a point for Liverpool, but Van Dijk was left to rue his side’s carelessness in front of goal as Liverpool missed the chance to return to the top of the table.
“We should’ve been 2-0 up at half time,” he told Sky Sports. “We had them under control.”
He added: “It’s just a shame. It definitely feels like a loss at this point.
“We were wasteful with our chances and we gave them a lifeline.”
A mistake from Van Dijk’s centre-back partner gave United the chance to level the game. Bruno Fernandes latched onto Jarell Quansah’s misplaced pass and drove the ball home from 40 yards with goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher off his line.
“Unfortunately individual mistakes can happen in the game, but we still had so much time to put it right but we were in a rush. We were losing too many balls and too many challenges in midfield,” said Van Dijk.
Asked whether the result — which puts the title race in Arsenal’s hands— felt self-inflicted, he said: “100 per cent. It feels like the FA Cup game again.
“I think the first half was better because we created chances and we limited their chances.
“But we know that one moment can change the game if we don’t finish (the chances) off and that’s the disappointing part.
“We should’ve won today but the reality is that we didn’t. Now we have to make it up in all the other games.”
The result leaves Liverpool second in the table behind leaders Arsenal on account of goal difference. Champions Manchester City are one point back in third with all three sides left with seven games remaining.
Jurgen Klopp’s side take on Atalanta in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday, before returning to Premier League action at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
GO DEEPER
The Briefing: Man United 2-2 Liverpool – More Mainoo, more chaos, Klopp’s side made to pay
(Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
