Piero Hincapié Sends Subtle Dig to Van Dijk After Arsenal Beat Liverpool

Piero Hincapié appears to have taken a subtle swipe at Virgil van Dijk following Arsenal’s tight victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

After the final whistle, the Ecuadorian took to Instagram to share an image of the gold Premier League champions patch on his sleeve, alongside the caption ‘I don’t forget...’

The post mirrors one shared by Van Dijk in January, after Liverpool held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium. At the time, the Dutchman posted an image of the same patch on his own sleeve, which he wore as part of Liverpool’s 2024/25 title defence.

At the time, the Gunners were top of the table but missed the chance to go eight points clear, failing to register a single shot in the second-half. Liverpool were barely more threatening, and it was the first Premier League game in almost 16 years in which they failed to register a shot on target. However, Dominik Szoboszlai insisted afterwards that his side had ‘showed again why we became champions last season’.

Ten months on, the roles have been reversed. Arsenal went on to win their first league title in 22 years, and the champions patch now sits on their sleeves.

Sunday’s victory gave them the perfect opportunity to remind Liverpool of that. Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the match, turning in Declan Rice’s low cross after Martin Ødegaard pressured a loose pass from Alisson. It was Rice’s fifth league assist of the season, the most in the Premier League this term.

Liverpool were unable to record a shot on target during a Premier League game at Anfield for the first time in history, and Hincapié was brought on in the final ten minutes to help see out the win.

The result ended a 14-year wait for a Premier League victory at Anfield, and it was Mikel Arteta’s first win there as a manager, 14 years after he played in Arsenal’s last success on Merseyside. It also ended Liverpool’s five-game winning run and moved the Gunners three points clear at the top after Manchester City's defeat to Brighton on Saturday.

Van Dijk, meanwhile, was left frustrated after the game, insisting Liverpool should have had a penalty for Jurriën Timber's controversial shirt pull on Alexander Isak in the first-half.

‘ We played at home, we had some opportunities,’ he said at full-time. ‘I think it was also a clear penalty. In the end, obviously it wasn’t given. We lose the game, unfortunately. Well done to Arsenal.’