Virgil van Dijk left fans in stitches as he tricked Richarlison during Liverpool’s Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Tottenham.
The two sides did battle on Thursday night for a spot at Wembley to take on Newcastle in the final of the competition, with Eddie Howe’s side laying in wait having knocked out Arsenal.
The Reds went into the game trailing 1-0 after Lucas Bergvall’s goal in the first leg, but goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah swung the tie in the favour of Liverpool in the second half.
One of the key battles of the game was between Virgil van Dijk and Richarlison, at least until the latter went off injured late on in the first half – Mathys Tel came on for his debut as his replacement.
Just minutes into the game, Richarlison hit the deck after an apparent inadvertent elbow from van Dijk, with a long VAR check ultimately adjudging that there was no violent conduct.
But a moment later in the game saw the Liverpool defender get the better of his rival in an off-the-ball moment that has been shared on social media.
Virgil van Dijk left fans in stitches as he offered Richarlison a hand before pulling it away
The two enjoyed a battle for much of the first half, until Richarlison went off injured just before half time
Richarlison alleged that the Liverpool captain had elbowed him in the opening minutes of tie
With Liverpool on the attack, Richarlison received the ball roughly 30 yards out from goal, trying to hold it up to earn some reprieve for his side.
Van Dijk pressed high, fouling his man, who hit the deck, with referee Craig Pawson giving a free kick to the visitors.
After van Dijk protested, the decision, naturally, stood, and the Dutch defender put his hand out to seemingly offer his hand to help the forward up.
When Richarlison looked as though he was going to take up the offer, putting his own hand out, van Dijk pulled his hand away, leaving his opponent to get up himself as van Dijk ran back into position.
Most fans saw the funny side of things of things on social media, with one writing on X: ‘Van Dijk’s absolutely done Richarlison,’ accompanied by three crying emojis.
Another posted: ‘This is the kind of pettiness I can relate to.’
A third, meanwhile, wrote: ‘Get that man a medal.’
On ITV’s coverage of the game, meanwhile, Ally McCoist said on ITV commentary of the alleged elbow: ‘I don’t think there’s any doubt about having a quick look at it. He brings his arm up to try and shrug him off. There is an elbow there, I will tell you right now. Maybe just below the chin but they will have a look at it.
‘He might just get away with it because it’s below his chin. Richarlison feels hard done by, he uses his elbow. I’m not sure it makes any contact with the face and that’s what saves him.’
