Tolu Arokodare Beats Virgil van Dijk as Steven Gerrard Defends Striker

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has dismissed claims that Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare fouled Virgil van Dijk during Wolverhampton Wanderers’ stunning 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Molineux on Tuesday night.

The dramatic defeat officially ended the reigning Premier League champions’ four-match winning streak.

The controversial moment occurred in the 78th minute when Arokodare, who had been brought on as a substitute in the 60th minute, engaged in a physical aerial duel with Van Dijk.

Following a deep pass from defender Jackson Tchatchoua, the Nigerian forward displayed immense strength to hold off both the Liverpool captain and Ibrahima Konate.

Arokodare then laid the ball off perfectly for Rodrigo Gomes, who advanced and chipped a delicate finish past Alisson Becker to put Wolves ahead.

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While several Liverpool players immediately protested to the referee, arguing that Van Dijk was fouled during the buildup, Gerrard insisted the physical battle was clean.

Speaking on TNT Sports after the match, the former Liverpool captain criticized the defending rather than the officiating.

“I don’t think it’s a foul. He (Van Dijk) has got to be a lot stronger in that situation,” Gerrard stated.

He also pointed out that Konate failed to bail out his defensive partner, noting that the Frenchman used the wrong leg to attempt a tackle instead of wrapping his leg around the ball.

Gerrard emphasized that when facing a “big, strong sub” like Arokodare, defenders must anticipate his intent to dominate physically and be prepared to match that intensity.

Van Dijk also addressed the incident post-match. While he hinted at his disagreement with the non-call, the Dutch defender ultimately accepted the referee’s verdict.

He noted that despite ongoing speculation regarding foul calls in recent weeks, the referee did not blow the whistle, and the team simply had to deal with that reality.

The historic match concluded with Wolves netting a stoppage-time winner, making them the first team in the relegation zone to ever score a stoppage-time winning goal against the reigning Premier League champions.

For Arokodare, the crucial assist added another positive note to his encouraging debut season in England.

The striker, who joined Wolves from Belgian outfit KRC Genk for €26 million on a contract running until 2029, has now contributed two goals and one assist in 26 top-flight appearances.

Despite recently admitting that adapting to the Premier League has been tougher than he initially expected, his physical presence continues to be a vital asset for his club.