Roy Hodgson has accused Virgil van Dijk of contributing towards Jordan Ayew’s dismissal in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The Ghanaian was given his marching orders by Andy Madley for two yellow card offences, and the 76-year-old raged at the Reds captain for his apparent role in the first of those, which the Eagles’ number 9 received for preventing the visitors from taking a quick free kick.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, a clearly dismayed Hodgson said of the Palace forward: “He’s been on four yellow cards for three games. He’s shown incredible discipline. Van Dijk took the opportunity to get him the first yellow card by kicking the ball against him from a few yards away. That’s very disappointing.
“If you’re Liverpool Football Club, you don’t need players of Van Dijk’s quality and status in the game trying to get a player a yellow card for kicking the ball at his foot.
“The second one I thought was a good challenge, and even if it was deemed a foul – which it could be – it wasn’t a yellow card.”
It’s understandable that Hodgson would feel as if Palace were hard done by this afternoon, given the litany of disputed refereeing incidents at Selhurst Park, but to accuse Van Dijk of getting Ayew booked is disappointing from the Eagles boss.
The Liverpool captain had every right to try and take a quick free kick, especially with the Reds having just gone 1-0 behind with half an hour remaining, and we highly doubt that his thought process in that moment was ‘let’s get this guy booked’.
You can see Hodgson’s comments below (from 1:13), via @footballontnt on X (formerly Twitter):
"When I do step away from the game I won't be missing anything"
"It's sad to watch games like that"
"I don't feel positive, I'm just gutted"
A visibly frustrated Roy Hodgson shares his post-match thoughts with @lynseyhipgrave1, @rioferdy5, and @petercrouch 😡 pic.twitter.com/sHjxt3iA8o
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 9, 2023
Consistent time wasting tactics & tactical fouls from Palace all game, only themselves to blame for their shit house tactics, fuck off Hodgson
crying arse.
Dry ur eyes Roy at the end u were not good enough & u should be blaming the ref who was issuing yellow cards willy nilly. And why does it take VAR 5 minutes to review anything that was blatantly obvious not a penalty…
He should think back how there penalty wasn’t a penalty it was outside the box plus 5 minutes after decides to give it,dirty fouls got off,c,on Hodgson they got off lightly blame your players they was the 1s with the help from var,ref get over it you lost admittedly they played well better than us at times but liverpool took the opportunity to win admit it Roy you don’t like too lose better luck next time