Virgil van Dijk and Declan Rice were embroiled in a tense confrontation during a significant Arsenal match against Liverpool as the home team declined to stop play for an injury.
Frimpong went down in the penalty area after minimal contact from Gunners defender Piero Hincapie, suffering a visibly painful rolled ankle.
Advertisement
Despite Frimpong lying injured, Arsenal quickly launched a counterattack without halting the game, ignoring strong appeals from the visiting team to stop play.
This sparked a confrontation between Reds captain Van Dijk and Arsenal’s influential midfielder Declan Rice, with both players exchanging heated words before being separated by teammates and referee Anthony Taylor.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk exchanges words with Arsenal’s Declan Rice (AFP via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Frimpong received medical attention from Liverpool’s medical team, with slow-motion replays providing little reassurance about his chances of returning to play.
To everyone’s surprise, the 25-year-old managed to rise and, after a brief wait on the sidelines, he returned to the pitch to continue his performance at the Emirates.
Advertisement
Frimpong had sought a penalty from referee Anthony Taylor, asserting that Hincapie’s challenge was a foul, but the contact was deemed insufficient to warrant VAR intervention.
After the play resumed, Liverpool was also denied a penalty after Florian Wirtz was brought down by Leandro Trossard. Although VAR requested a review, Taylor’s original decision of no foul stood.