- Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League on penalties by PSG
- Rooney believes Van Dijk had a key role in the goal which had levelled the tie
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! With the Premier League likely securing five Champions League spots, are we rewarding mediocrity?
Wayne Rooney has pinpointed ‘lazy’ defending from Virgil van Dijk for Paris Saint-Germain’s crucial goal as Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Liverpool were beaten 4-1 on penalties by the reigning French champions at Anfield to exit the competition at the last-16 stage.
Arne Slot’s side had held a 1-0 lead from the first leg, but PSG levelled the tie in the 12th minute of the second leg through Ousmane Dembele.
Dembele scored from close range following a rapid PSG attack, with the forward having initially found Bradley Barcola on the right wing.
Barcola’s cross led to confusion between Alisson and Ibrahima Konate and the Liverpool defender only succeeded in deflecting the ball into Dembele’s path to finish.
Despite the mix-up between Alisson and Konate, former Man United and England forward Rooney highlighted Van Dijk’s role in the goal.
Virgil van Dijk has been criticised for ‘lazy’ defending for PSG’s goal by Wayne Rooney
Dembele scored from close range after a mix-up, but Rooney noted issues earlier in the move
Rooney claimed Van Dijk’s failure to track Dembele had allowed him to receive the ball in space
Rooney claimed Van Dijk had been ‘lazy’ in failing to track Dembele earlier in the move, as the forward dropped towards the halfway line to receive possession from his defenders.
Dembele had received the ball in space before turning and launching the attack which led to PSG levelling the tie.
‘This goal from Liverpool’s perspective is wrong in so many ways,’ Rooney said on Amazon Prime.
‘They are trying to press the ball and Van Dijk gets lazy.
‘If you keep your eye on Van Dijk, he’s walking and leaves a massive gap to Dembele.
‘All he has to do is come across and cover Dembele because there is no other pass for Paris to get out and he doesn’t.
‘Dembele gets it and he’s got a lot of space, gets the ball out wide and then Konate doesn’t switch on and then he reacts.
‘Dembele makes a good run and gets a tap in.’
Liverpool were beaten 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out by PSG to bow out of the competition
Van Dijk insisted Liverpool would be ready for their next challenge in the Carabao Cup final
The last-16 tie was ultimately by a penalty shootout with the two-legged contest having ended level at 1-1.
Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones missed from the spot as Liverpool bowed out of the competition.
The Reds will look to bounce back in the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle on Sunday, while Slot’s side are on course to win the Premier League having established a 15-point lead at the top.
Van Dijk, who is out of contract at the end of the season, expressed his disappointment at their Champions League exit.
The Liverpool captain stressed the team would be ready for the next challenge.
‘It was a very intense, great game of football,’ he said. ‘I think obviously it was a totally different Liverpool than what we showed in Paris, but unfortunately we are out on penalties and that’s the reality.
‘I think in the first half we created dangerous moments [as well as the second half] and obviously you know that they have the quality to create them as well. Eventually it comes down to penalties and unfortunately we lost.
‘It’s part of football. I said to the guys, “Obviously you can be disappointed because we are out of the competition but it’s chin up and get ready for the next challenge.” It’s a beautiful one on the weekend so we go again.’
