'It is a physical game' - Liverpool's Van Dijk brushes off suggestions he should have seen red

"We are in October, and people said that if you lose today, you will lose the league. They have absolutely no clue in my opinion."

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk applauds the fans following the Premier League match against Arsenal. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has dismissed claims he should have been sent off in his side's 2-2 draw at Arsenal by describing his off-the-ball clash with Kai Havertz as "part and parcel of the game".

In just the sixth minute, Havertz was left in a heap on the Emirates Stadium turf after Van Dijk pushed him aside with his right arm and then appeared to strike the German twice with his left leg.