Graeme Souness has delivered a four-word message to Virgil van Dijk after the Liverpool captain had complained that Manchester United had deployed negative tactics during their goalless draw on Sunday. 

Souness agreed with Van Dijk’s frustrations, with the Liverpool defender claiming that there was only one team who wanted to win yesterday at Anfield.

Liverpool had 34 attempts on goal compared to Man United‘s six, while the hosts also had 68 per cent possession.

After the match, a frustrated Van Dijk hit out at Erik ten Hag’s side’s tactics, claiming: ‘How we played the game, having most of the ball, there was only one team that was trying to win the game, unfortunately it didn’t happen.

‘We were superior in all aspects. They are buzzing with a point and we are disappointed,’ he added.

Graeme Souness has issued a four-word message to Virgil van Dijk after Liverpool drew 0-0 to Man United on Sunday, telling the Liverpool star to ‘get used to it’

Van Dijk claimed in his post-match interview that United had tried to employ negative tactics against Liverpool

“It tells you where Man Utd are, right now!”

🤦‍♂️“One of the biggest clubs in the world, & they’re having to turn up & try to nick games.”

Graeme Souness argues #MUFC’s display at #LFC shows how far they’ve fallen in 10 years. pic.twitter.com/CY9eYuUjvU

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) December 18, 2023

Roy Keane slammed Van Dijk as ‘arrogant’ and said his comments were ‘disrespectful’.

And now ex-Liverpool midfielder Souness has also had his say. Speaking on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan show, he said the 32-year-old Dutchman needs to ‘get used to it!’

‘He could have been a bit more magnanimous in his choice of words, but he was right, wasn’t he?’ Souness added.

‘There was only one team trying to win it. There was only one team who set out their stall before a ball was kicked, in minute one, they tried to win the game.

‘Man United were in survival mode by the way they set out to play, and don’t take my word for it, stats tell you that!

‘Where I’d be critical of Van Dijk is, get used to it! This isn’t a new thing for big teams, it would have been the same for Man United when they were the dominant force.’

He added: ‘His initial words, and maybe he could have been a bit gentler in his choice of words, I think are correct.

‘There was only one team that tried to win the game, and this is born out of frustration.’

The result means that Arsenal have jumped ahead of Liverpool to go top of the Premier League, with the Reds now level on points with Aston Villa in second place.

And while United looked the most likely to score on Sunday, Keane blasted the Liverpool captain for his comments.

‘It’s arrogance,’ he told Sky Sports after the match. ‘You still have to go out and do it. That’s what the great teams do. Liverpool have won the league once in 30 years.

‘We played Liverpool many times when they were struggling. You find different ways to win a football match.’

Keane added: ‘Arrogance comes into football where you’re disappointed with a draw. The most important stat is the scoreline.

Roy Keane accused Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk of being arrogant with his post-match comments

Souness also empathised with the Liverpool defender over his frustrations

The draw means that Arsenal will leapfrog Liverpool and go top of the Premier League

‘Liverpool had opportunities and they didn’t take them. That’s their own fault, nothing to do with how Manchester United set up or their injuries. I think he’s out of order.’

Van Dijk responded to Keane’s comments on Monday, claiming that his post-match analysis of the game did not come from a place of arrogance.

‘I like Roy Keane, if he said that then it’s fine,’ he said.

‘He is Man United throughout and I understand he could react like that but I felt what I said and there is absolutely no arrogance that.

‘Everyone who watched the game probably felt the same. We move on. We had the opportunity and we couldn’t score and that’s the frustrating part.’