Virgil van Dijk slip echoes Steven Gerrard’s iconic moment but is bailed out by Robertson

The scene was set.

Manchester City beat Luton Town 5-1 to go two points clear at the top of the table on Saturday with both Liverpool and Arsenal playing on Sunday. The Reds kicked things off first against Crystal Palace and after a horrid week of football for them, many expected Jurgen Klopp’s side to right the fates especially with their treble hopes hanging by a string.

They had, after all, drawn a game against Manchester United that they should have won and got thoroughly beaten by a well-oiled Atalanta side during their mid-week Europa League fixture. But sometimes, fate and luck have other ideas as Eberechi Eze suddenly found the ball at his feet inside the area. The Englishman hadn’t scored in five games but still effortlessly stroked the ball home.

Four minutes later and things nearly got worse. Eberchi Eze leads the counter-attack, sees Jean-Philippe Mateta and slides a pass into his feet.

But the pass is overhit and Mateta had all but given up and then…..Virgil van Dijk slipped.

An iconic, cult hero-esque Liverpool captain slipped…and against Crystal Palace no less.

Sure, it wasn’t Chelsea but there it was, echos of a moment that no Liverpool fan ever wants to remember in a title race no less. But there it was, there was Mateta’s chance to double the lead as Van Dijk hit the deck and decided against watching as the Frenchman drove past.

Alisson charged to cut down the space, Mateta reacted and simply scooped the ball over the Brazilian. He turned in shock, as Van Dijk’s heart started beating even faster. One bounce, two bounce and before it could take its third bounce over the goal-line, there was Andrew Robertson.

The Scottish left-back appeared out of seemingly nowhere and produced a sensational clearance, mere seconds before the ball cleared the line and added to Liverpool’s problems. It was all for nothing as Palace held on but it was some clearance. How good? Watch and let us know.

Also Read: Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp Was Displeased with Joe Gomez Amidst Atalanta Defeat