---
title: "Virgil van Dijk: FA Cup stat vs Man City exposes Liverpool captain in 4-0 humiliation"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/virgil-van-dijk-fa-cup-stat-vs-man-city-exposes-liverpool-captain-in-4-0-humiliation/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dakir Mohammed Thanveer"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2026-04-06T22:25:03Z"
modified: "2026-04-06T22:25:07Z"
---

# Virgil van Dijk: FA Cup stat vs Man City exposes Liverpool captain in 4-0 humiliation

- Virgil van Dijk had a game to forget as Liverpool lost 4-0 against Manchester City in the FA Cup
- The Dutchman conceded a cheap penalty, allowing Erling Haaland to score
- The Reds captain’s body language also left a lot to be desired

**Virgil van Dijk has nowhere to hide after Manchester City exposed the Liverpool captain in the FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday.**

Arne Slot side. bowed out of the FA Cup after suffering a [humiliating defeat at the hands of Manchester City](https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/man-city-liverpool-ratings-haaland-hat-trick-fa-cup-humiliation/) at the Etihad Stadium on 4 April.

Despite making a positive start to the game, the Reds were no match for Pep Guardiola’s side, who ran riot after taking the lead in the 39th minute.

[Van Dijk was at fault](https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/liverpool-player-ratings-man-city-fa-cup-van-dijk-haaland/) for the Cityzens’ opener, as he carelessly brought down Nico O’Reilly in the box to give the hosts a cheap penalty.

The captain, as well as his teammates, immediately dropped their heads and showed no fight to get back in the game.

## Damning Van Dijk stat raises questions over Liverpool captain

Van Dijk’s foul on O’Reilly saw the centre-back concede his fourth penalty of the season. With the player making 46 appearances across all competitions this term, he is giving away a spot-kick every 11.5 games.

Remarkably, this is as many penalties as he conceded in his first eight years at Liverpool, which accounts for 319 appearances.

> Virgil van Dijk has conceded four penalties this season 😬 (46 apps)\
> \
> That's as many as he did in his first eight years with Liverpool 😳 (319 apps) [pic.twitter.com/Y6RLEkI3nT](https://t.co/Y6RLEkI3nT)
>
> — Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) [April 4, 2026](https://twitter.com/BBCMOTD/status/2040413189964550149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The Netherlands international conceded his first penalty of the season in Liverpool’s Community Shield defeat against Crystal Palace in August, fouling Ismaila Sarr when Slot’s men were leading 1-0.

He also did the same in the [3-2 loss to Brentford in October](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/13454966/brentford-3-2-liverpool-reds-suffer-fourth-consecutive-premier-league-defeat-as-defence-exposed-again), with Dango Outtara on the receiving end on that occasion.

Van Dijk was also a guilty party in the Reds [4-1 humiliation by PSV Eindhoven at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League in November.](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/liverpool-psv-anfield-arne-slot-van-dijk-champions-league-b2873290.html)

While the 34-year-old’s record has improved since then, the incident against Manchester City at the weekend shows that he is perhaps not as reliable as he used to be.

## Liverpool must look at life beyond Van Dijk

There has been a [lot of talk about Mohamed Salah](https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/doesnt-matter-arne-slot-delivers-mo-salah-injury-verdict-as-unbelievable-claim-made/)‘s subpar performances this season. Fans have been alarmed by the way the Egyptian has declined his title-winning heroics last term.

It appears that age is finally catching up to two of the greatest Liverpool players of this generation, with Van Dijk also on a rapid decline.

It is certainly a bad sign when the defender who once went 65 games across all competitions without being dribbled past is conceding four penalties in 46 matches.

> Remarkable…\
> \
> No opposition player has completed a dribble past [@VirgilvDijk](https://twitter.com/VirgilvDijk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) in any of his last 64 apps in all competitions for [@LFC](https://twitter.com/LFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) 👏 [pic.twitter.com/hWqX11oU7n](https://t.co/hWqX11oU7n)
>
> — Premier League (@premierleague) [June 2, 2019](https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1135094976872943621?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The former Southampton star will turn 35 this summer, while his contract at the Merseyside-based club [runs out at the end of next season](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/virgil-van-dijk-signs-new-liverpool-fc-contract).

At this rate, it is hard to see the Liverpool centre-back being offered him another deal, although it is not uncommon to see defenders play at a very high level well into their 30s.