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Van Dijk ‘just wanted to talk’ to Arsenal star over Salah row

Virgil van Dijk has played down his tunnel bust-up up with Arsenal star Sokratis, explaining it was a row over Mo Salah that sparked the confrontation.

The Liverpool defender was involved in a heated confrontation with his Arsenal counterpart as the players made their way down the tunnel at half-time, in a match where Jurgen Klopp’s side underlined their title credentials with a comprehensive win.

Klopp admitted he almost cried after Salah offered up Liverpool’s second penalty to Roberto Firmino but it was his behaviour to win the first spot-kick that almost brought tears to Arsenal defenders’ eyes.

The Gunners were furious that Salah hit the floor too easily to earn himself the chance to put Liverpool 4-1 up at half-time.

Sokratis, the man penalised for the challenge, led the protests to the Egyptian and Van Dijk took exception to the Arsenal defender’s behaviour.

“I saw that he went to Mo and was saying that he dived. He was attacking him a bit, but I wanted to say he didn’t dive,” Van Dijk said.

“Obviously everyone came around us and it looked like we were fighting or something but we weren’t.

“I just wanted to talk to him. But that happens in football and we move on.

“I’m protecting my team-mates and that’s normal, that’s how everyone should react and that’s what we all need to do, to back each other. That’s what I definitely do.”