Virgil van Dijk marked his Liverpool debut in the perfect way on Friday evening.
The most expensive defender in the history of football popped-up with a late winning goal against Everton, scoring at the Kop end to give Jurgen Klopp’s team a 2-1 FA Cup victory at Anfield.
All the focus before the match was on Van Dijk, who completed his £75m transfer from Southampton last week. After waiting months to see the player line-out for Liverpool, fans of the club finally got their wish in the Merseyside derby, and they weren’t disappointed.
With such a large transfer fee to justify, a lot of players might have felt under pressure making their first appearance for a new club in such a high-intensity fixture, with millions watching at home. However, Van Dijk impressed throughout and announced his arrival as a Liverpool player with a soaring header five minutes from the end.
He made himself an instant hero with the Liverpool fans.
https://twitter.com/Oliver__Bond/status/949399532558745606
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/BGvKxN4A23
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) January 5, 2018
However, not everyone appeared to be as excited as Liverpool fans. Martin Tyler has been called-out by fans of the club for his reaction on commentary duty to the goal.
Here’s how the commentator called the moment when Van Dijk scored:
https://twitter.com/_FILMBuFF_/status/949400315039834112
Tyler, who has been Sky Sports’ main football commentator since the Premier League launched in 1992, has often been accused by some Liverpool supporters of favouring their opponents.
And some felt he had a muted reaction to Van Dijk’s winning-goal on Friday evening, not in keeping with the dramatic nature of the moment.
“There’s no Martin Tyler anti-Liverpool bias. He’s a good commentator”
Imagine United spend £75 million on a player and he scores the winner against City. Tyler would explode. Then listen to this. https://t.co/59hi2FOCyW
— And Could He Play (@andcouldheplay7) January 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/SakhoLad/status/949428911028490241
Just heard the Martin Tyler commentary on Van Dijk #LFC winner… he genuinely sounded gutted. Total contrast to BBC commentary, where ALL goals greated with excitement.
— DavidJohn (@DavidJhn77) January 5, 2018
Martin Tyler when Liverpool score……… pic.twitter.com/4kipib4U2B
— Ben Webb (@BenWebbLFC) January 6, 2018
Martin Tyler's commentary for the VVD goal is hilarious – absolutely hates Liverpool 😂🤔
— Tom Eckett (@tekkers44) January 6, 2018
