Leandro Trossard then wrapped the game up with a well-taken goal through Alisson’s legs to compound a poor night on the whole for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Defensively, Liverpool were not at the races and with Van Dijk having a poor game and Ibrahima Konate seeing red, it was just one of those nights.

And watching on from afar, former Liverpool striker John Aldridge took to X to criticise the two Liverpool defenders, suggesting he’d been proven right on a theory he had about them all season long.

One to forget for Van Dijk and Liverpool against Arsenal

Quite what got into Virgil van Dijk for the goal Martinelli scored only he will know. Likewise, why Alisson allowed Trossard’s third to go under his legs also begs questions.

Ultimately, this was just one of those terrible nights that even the best players in the world seem to have at times.

Van Dijk has been such a rock over the years than when he does make a mistake it’s highlighted more than most.

Konate, on the other hand, seemed to struggle all night long and Gabriel Martinelli made him and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s life a misery down that side.

Jurgen Klopp will have to get his troops to recover quickly from this. As Jamie Carragher said on Sky at full-time, one defeat doesn’t define the season for the Reds, and neither will it define Van Dijk and Konate’s impact as the top two defenders.

Aldridge’s observation is an interesting one though and something that Van Dijk and the rest might have to cut out going forward.