Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch make Liverpool World Cup history not seen since 1966
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The Netherlands were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by Japan in their World Cup opener, but there was still a special Liverpool moment to take from the game in Dallas.Virgil van Dijk captained the Dutch side and opened the scoring early in the second half, meeting a Ryan Gravenberch delivery with a superb guided header across goal and in off the post. The goal also gave Liverpool a rare World Cup first, with Van Dijk and Gravenberch doing something no Reds pair had managed since 1966.
Which Liverpool player do you think will have the BEST World Cup? 🔮 Cody Gakpo could be key for the Netherlands! 👀Credit: ANP/MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP/Getty Images Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch make Liverpool World Cup historyAccording to Opta’s Michael Reid on X, Gravenberch assisting Van Dijk was only the second World Cup goal ever scored and assisted by Liverpool players.The only previous example came back in 1966, when Ian Callaghan assisted Roger Hunt for England against France on their road to the trophy. That makes Van Dijk’s goal an excellent little piece of Liverpool history, even if the performance itself was not especially convincing from the Netherlands.The first half had been largely lifeless from both sides, with neither team able to build much rhythm or create sustained pressure.Van Dijk broke the deadlock six minutes into the second half, heading Gravenberch’s cross back across goal and into the net off the post.Photo by Stefan Koops/EYE4IMAGES/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesJapan responded well after the break, though.
Keito Nakamura equalised soon after Van Dijk’s opener, before Gravenberch picked up a second assist by setting up Crysencio Summerville for a low finish to make it 2-1.The Dutch looked set to escape with the win, but Daichi Kamada struck two minutes from time to make it 2-2.It was not the start the Netherlands wanted, but Van Dijk and Gravenberch still delivered a memorable moment for Liverpool fans. Their next World Cup match comes against Sweden in Houston on Saturday, June 20th.READ MORE: Liverpool targets make dream World Cup debuts as transfer case becomes even clearerJoin Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox