Van Dijk admits he ignored Klopp sideline screams over tactical disagreement at Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk has admitted he ignored Jurgen Klopp's shouting from the touchline during Liverpool's draw with Fulham at the start of the season.
Klopp's side drew 2-2 at Craven Cottage on the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.
Aleksandar Mitrovic's brace put the hosts ahead after Darwin Nunez's opening goal, before Mohamed Salah scored late to salvage a point for the Reds.
It was a slow start to the season that threatened to pick up speed without ever really adjusting.
The draw with Fulham was the first of five away games for Liverpool so far this season, none of which have been won.
Van Dijk has been at the heart of a less than secure defense this season, despite being arguably the Premier League's standout centre-back since joining Anfield in January 2018.
And the Dutch international has revealed he chose to ignore Klopp's barking orders from the touchline on the opening day.
"In the last five minutes I was trying to be more direct and he was screaming at me that we need to play a little more," Van Dijk told Gary Neville on Overlap.< /p>
"And I knew he was screaming aside so I didn't look at him and didn't recognize him because I knew full well he was going to [target him]."
The defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday was perhaps the worst for Liverpool this season and Klopp claimed a last-minute forced change helped the result.
"We played against a deeply defensive team," said the German. "We didn't train in that formation for a second because Jones wasn't in the plans. He was close and we can see he's fit now which is great, but he's never played in this position before.
“Then Thiago has an infection overnight and is out and you have to make a decision. Can Henderson do it again? we had to get used to it. We didn't hit the target and the goalkeeper made a sensational save, but that's it now and we can't change it."
READ MORE: Liverpool duo join Leeds winger in Premier League weekend's worst XI
Virgil van Dijk has admitted he ignored Jurgen Klopp's shouting from the touchline during Liverpool's draw with Fulham at the start of the season.
Klopp's side drew 2-2 at Craven Cottage on the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.
Aleksandar Mitrovic's brace put the hosts ahead after Darwin Nunez's opening goal, before Mohamed Salah scored late to salvage a point for the Reds.
It was a slow start to the season that threatened to pick up speed without ever really adjusting.
The draw with Fulham was the first of five away games for Liverpool so far this season, none of which have been won.
Van Dijk has been at the heart of a less than secure defense this season, despite being arguably the Premier League's standout centre-back since joining Anfield in January 2018.
And the Dutch international has revealed he chose to ignore Klopp's barking orders from the touchline on the opening day.
"In the last five minutes I was trying to be more direct and he was screaming at me that we need to play a little more," Van Dijk told Gary Neville on Overlap.< /p>
"And I knew he was screaming aside so I didn't look at him and didn't recognize him because I knew full well he was going to [target him]."
The defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday was perhaps the worst for Liverpool this season and Klopp claimed a last-minute forced change helped the result.
"We played against a deeply defensive team," said the German. "We didn't train in that formation for a second because Jones wasn't in the plans. He was close and we can see he's fit now which is great, but he's never played in this position before.
“Then Thiago has an infection overnight and is out and you have to make a decision. Can Henderson do it again? we had to get used to it. We didn't hit the target and the goalkeeper made a sensational save, but that's it now and we can't change it."
READ MORE: Liverpool duo join Leeds winger in Premier League weekend's worst XI
What's Your Reaction?
