Virgil van Dijk was left seething after Liverpool's agonizing 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth, expressing strong disagreement with the refereeing decisions surrounding the Cherries' last-gasp winner. Amine Adli's goal in the final moments of the game secured a victory for the home side, but the Liverpool captain believed he was unfairly impeded in the build-up.

The game at the Vitality Stadium saw Bournemouth initially take a commanding lead, with Evanilson scoring in the 26th minute, followed by Alex Jimenez shortly after. Liverpool fought back, with Van Dijk pulling one back just before halftime. Dominik Szoboszlai then leveled the score with a well-taken free-kick with just ten minutes left to play, setting the stage for a tense finish.

As James Hill launched a long throw into the Liverpool box, Adli flicked the ball on before Marcos Senesi's attempt was blocked. The ball then fell to Adli, who struck it home from a tight angle.

Van Dijk's immediate reaction was to argue with referee Michael Salisbury, claiming he was fouled during the sequence of play. Speaking to the media after the match, Van Dijk stated, "What I felt on that pitch was that I was clearly blocked, but obviously the ref and the VAR don't give it". He acknowledged the need to accept the decision, despite his disagreement.

The Liverpool captain also conveyed his disappointment with the overall result, especially after the team's comeback. "Very disappointed," Van Dijk said. "Last minute of the game, very tough to take". He further noted the team's openness on the counter-attack as they pushed for a late winner, which ultimately left them vulnerable.

Notably, Jamie Redknapp, analyzing the incident, pointed out that Van Dijk was inadvertently blocked by his own teammate, Curtis Jones, and that Liverpool still had opportunities to clear the ball.

The defeat means Liverpool's winless streak in the Premier League has now stretched to five games. Van Dijk, while admitting the team's need to find consistency, defended the squad's unity. He acknowledged the fluctuating nature of praise and criticism based on results, stating, "Three days later you lose a game like you did today, and the other side of the world comes out. That is something we have to deal with, but you have to perform, we want to win games".

The incident also highlights the increasing scrutiny on refereeing standards and the use of VAR in the Premier League. New rules have been introduced to encourage captains to engage respectfully with referees, and to improve communication and transparency regarding VAR reviews for fans in the stadium.