Virgil Van Dijk Admits He Deliberately Ignored Jurgen Klopp to Avoid Criticism

• Liverpool assistant captain Virgil Van Dijk has revealed that he once ignored Jurgen Klopp, who was shouting instructions on the touchline
• The incident happened during Liverpool's game against Fulham, on the opening day of the English Premier League at Craven Cottage
• Liverpool have struggled for consistency this season, with the side yet to win an away game in the Premier League

Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk has admitted to ignoring his manager Jurgen Klopp to avoid criticism.

Van Dijk revealed that he ignored Klopp, who was calling him on the touchline during Liverpool's opening game of the season against Fulham.

Liverpool drew that game 2-2, with Aleksandar Mitrović bagging a brace. Van Dijk committed a rare mistake of conceding a penalty, while the first goal came from a Trent Alexander-Arnold error.

The draw at Craven Cottage formed the basis of Liverpool's struggles this season. Klopp's charges are yet to win a single away game this season.

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Speaking to Gary Neville, as quoted by the Mirror, Van Dijk admitted that Klopp wanted his side to play differently.

"In the last five minutes, I was trying to go more direct and he was shouting at me that we had to play a little bit more. And I knew he was shouting from the side so I wasn't looking at him and didn't acknowledge him, because I knew for a fact that he was going to target me."

Liverpool fell to a shock 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest over the weekend. They are currently 8th with 16 points.

Klopp blamed Van Dijk for the loss to Nottingham Forest

Sports Brief had earlier reported that Jurgen Klopp was not a happy man, after his Liverpool side were condemned to a shock defeat away to bottom club Nottingham Forest.

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Klopp singled out Virgil Van Dijk and Robert Firmino for missing easy chances as the Reds tried to mount a comeback.

Liverpool were stunned away at Forest, putting an end to their mini-revival after two straight 1-0 wins over Manchester City and West Ham this past week.