Klopp explains why he subbed Van Dijk in shock Liverpool loss

The German explained his decision to replace the defender and his criticism of the referee in Monday’s defeat to Brentford.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he withdrew Virgil van Dijk midway into Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat at Brentford because of a small injury.

Replacing Van Dijk with Joel Matip was one of three half-time changes Klopp made, with Harvey Elliot and Konstantinos Tsimikas also coming off for Naby Keita and Andy Robertson respectively.

But while Elliot and Tsimikas’ substitutions were tactical decisions, Van Dijk’s was a precaution. The defender stayed on the bench for the second half, with his right thigh appearing to be heavily strapped.

“Virgil felt his hamstring a little bit,” Klopp told beIN Sports.

“He said he was fine but when I said ‘we don’t take any risks’ the physios were quite happy with that. I think it’s nothing serious, but that’s why we changed him.”

Klopp criticizes the referee Stuart Attwell

In all, it was a miserable night at the Gtech Community Stadium for Liverpool. An own goal from Ibrahima Konate and Yoane Wissa’s header handed Brentford a two-goal lead before the break.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pulled a goal back for Klopp’s side in the second half. However, six minutes from time, Bryan Mbeumo scored the third goal for Brentford. The forward did so by slotting the ball past Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker upon sending Konate to the ground after slight contact.

“The third goal should not be a goal, easy as that,” Klopp said.

“If you have ever played football and you are doing a full sprint and you get a slight push you go down because you cannot keep balanced, that’s how it is and you can see it with Ibou [Konate] but Stuart Attwell wanted to see it differently.”

When asked if he had spoken to the referee, Klopp added: “It’s exactly the same like talking to my microwave, you get no response really. It’s just always the same.”

The 3-1 defeat cost Liverpool the chance to leapfrog Tottenham into fifth place in the Premier League. They remain four points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, who play Bournemouth on Tuesday.

The Reds will next face Wolves in an FA Cup third-round tie on Saturday at Anfield.