Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has publicly stated that his international teammate Xavi Simons did not intend to injure him during a challenging match against Tottenham Hotspur on December 3, 2023. Simons received a red card in the first half after a VAR review confirmed that he had raked his studs down the back of Van Dijk’s calf. This decision proved pivotal, allowing Liverpool to secure a crucial victory that elevated them to fifth place in the Premier League standings while Spurs fell to thirteenth.
“I don’t think there was any intention to hurt me, but obviously he hurt me,” Van Dijk explained. “The referee and the VAR made the decision to send him off. I spoke to him. It’s a chat that no one needs to know.”
Despite the win, Liverpool faced injury concerns as forward Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was forced off shortly after scoring the opening goal. He appeared to be in significant pain following a collision with a Spurs defender, leaving Liverpool anxiously awaiting updates on his condition. Van Dijk expressed hope for Oxlade-Chamberlain’s recovery, remarking, “Injuries unfortunately are part of football and hopefully with Alex it’s not too bad. He scored a great goal. It’s too soon after the game to know the extent of it. He will need to be assessed.”
Liverpool’s victory marked their sixth consecutive unbeaten game across all competitions, although they narrowly avoided conceding a last-minute equaliser against Tottenham, who finished the match with nine players. Reflecting on the performance, Van Dijk noted the chaotic nature of the final moments. “The immediate reaction coming off was that it was a chaotic last five to ten minutes,” he said. “It wasn’t great, but to get the three points is massive.”
He acknowledged that there were no significant issues until they conceded a goal and highlighted the need for improvement in handling pressure situations. “When you concede a goal and their fans get behind them like they did, it’s never easy to make the right decisions and find the right solutions. That’s something we can improve, but I don’t think it’s worrying. It’s a transition, and we need to keep getting better.”
Looking ahead, Van Dijk emphasized the importance of maintaining focus as Liverpool prepares for their next match against Wolverhampton Wanderers. “Winning more and getting results is always positive. Losing games, especially at a club like Liverpool, is always bad. For us, it’s about staying calm and taking each game as it comes,” he stated.
As the festive season approaches, Van Dijk also reflected on the significance of family and health. “First we have Christmas. Being with your family and being healthy are the most important things in life.”
