'I'm disappointed', Liverpool star admits poor performance against Arsenal

Things did not go well for Liverpool as they missed the chance to move up the Premier League table. A painful defeat for the Reds marked Arsenal's return to the top of the table, after Manchester City had won a day earlier to go top of the table for the moment. After the defeat Liverpool club figures spoke out, agreeing that it was a controversial match from a refereeing point of view.

Dutch centre-back and captain Vigil van Dijk said the game was fairly even, until central referee Michael Oliver awarded the penalty that gave the home side the win. "Very disappointed. It was a very tough game for both sides. It was decided by a penalty that from my point of view was not a penalty," said the 31-year-old.

More Liverpool news:

The player Klopp no longer wants and will leave for free

'Heavy metal is no more', the harsh critique that shows Liverpool's crisis

During the broadcast, Van Dijk and his team-mates were in disbelief as they complained about the controversial decision, and it was anyone's game at the time, as the Reds had come from behind twice to draw at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal, a club that has had a dream start, losing just one league game so far.

The penalty, which was converted into a brace by England youngster Bukayo Saka, saw Liverpool drop down a place in the table to tenth on 10 points, one of the worst starts in the Jürgen Klopp era, which since his arrival at Anfield in 2016 had kept the Red's at the top of the table and in contention since season 1.

Van Dijk acknowledges underperformance

Van Dijk, who has played every minute of the season for Liverpool FC, also accepted that the defeat struck a chord within the club, prompting them to immediately turn the page and start preparing for the midweek clash in Glasgow, Scotland, when they face Rangers FC in the decisive UEFA Champions League 2022-2023 Group A game on Matchday 4.