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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk insists he was not being arrogant in dismissing Manchester United\u2019s overly defensive display at Anfield.<\/p>\n
The Dutchman provoked a response from former United midfielder Roy Keane when he said only one team played to win.<\/p>\n
Keane said the comments were arrogant and disrespectful, adding: \u201cHe needs a reminder himself; he\u2019s playing for a club that have won the title once in 30-odd years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Dijk insisted there was honesty but no arrogance in his words on a frustrating afternoon where Liverpool had 34 shots but failed to score for the first time since April.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like Roy Keane, if he said that then it\u2019s fine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is Man United throughout and I understand he could react like that but I felt what I said and there is absolutely no arrogance in that.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone who watched the game probably felt the same. We move on. We had the opportunity and we couldn\u2019t score and that\u2019s the frustrating part.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time since April Jurgen Klopp\u2019s side failed to score, ending a club record-equalling run of 34 successive matches, and the 34 shots they attempted was their most on record (since 2003-04) without scoring.<\/p>\n
Striker Darwin Nunez has not found the net in 10 matches, Mohamed Salah, who scored 10 in 12 league games before November\u2019s international break, has just one in the last five, Luis Diaz has scored once in the league since mid-August while Cody Gakpo\u2019s two league goals were both in September.<\/p>\n
\nI felt what I said and there is absolutely no arrogance in that<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
December is the worst time to lose your form with the number of fixtures during the month and Van Dijk admits the players may have been trying just too hard against their arch-rivals.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe (we were) trying to force it a little bit at times and we could have made a better decision but it was hard to break the low block down,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou push, you push, you push and try to do everything in your power but it was one of those days we couldn\u2019t find the right decision to score a goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt times \u2013 I won\u2019t say every time \u2013 we forced it too much to find a solution which wasn\u2019t there but that\u2019s football.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is no time to dwell on the disappointing result which cost them top spot as West Ham are the midweek visitors for the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, a competition Liverpool won in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe move on and have to learn from a lot of moments \u2013 and we will \u2013 and focus on Wednesday,\u201d said Van Dijk.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go for it. It\u2019s the first trophy that could be in reach and it will be a very tough game as West Ham are also in a good moment with good players.\u201d<\/p>\n