Virgil van Dijk is beatable: Liverpool defender dribbled past for first time in 65 matches

The Dutchman's remarkable run came to an end in the Community Shield defeat to Manchester City

Virgil van Dijk (r) in action against Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus. EPA

Manchester City's Claudio Bravo celebrates saving Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum's penalty that proved decisive to them winning the Community Shield. Reuters

Gabriel Jesus celebrates with teammates after converting the winning penalty. AFP

City's players celebrate their success. Getty

Bernardo Silva scored one of City's five successful penalties. Getty

Silva, Phil Foden and John Stones of Manchester City celebrate. Getty

Liverpool's Joel Matip looks dejected with Wijnaldum and teammates. Reuters

It is the fourth time in 12 months that City have won a trophy at Wembley Stadium. Getty

City's players celebrate. Getty

Bravo parries away Wijnaldum's penalty. Reuters

Liverpool's players watch on during penalties. Getty

Mohamed Salah scores a penalty during the shoot-out. Reuters

City's players were jubilant. AP Photo

Jesus scores the winning penalty. Reuters

Salah twice hit the woodwork and had an effort cleared off the line. Reuters

Jesus kept his cool to clinch the win for City. AFP

Jesus gestures to the City fans as the celebrations begin. AFP

City players celebrate after Jesus scores. Reuters

There's plenty of individual accolades to be won for the Premier League's top stars, from Golden Boot to Player of the Year.

But maybe there should be another awarded - to whoever successfully dribbles past Liverpool's man-mountain Virgil van Dijk.

If that was the case, Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus would have been holding not only the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium on Sunday after his side's penalty shootout victory over Liverpool.

For the Brazilian went were no man has gone for well over a year - and that is past Van Dijk with the ball under control.

The Opta statistics service revealed that Jesus's dribble was the first time Van Dijk had been breached since March 2018, a remarkable period stretching 65 matches. The previous player to have made it past Van Dijk was Newcastle's Mikel Merino (remember him?).

However, whether Jesus's piece of skill constituted a dribble is open to debate.

He received the ball near the halfway and performed a drag back as Van Dijk closed in. The defender missed the tackle allowing Jesus to tack a step forward and pass towards the on-rushing Kevin De Bruyne, but he didn't actually run past him.

It rounded off a miserable afternoon for Van Dijk, whose side drew 1-1 with City after 90 minutes before losing 5-4 in the shootout.

Raheem Sterling had given City an early lead, but Joel Matip equalised and Liverpool could have won it late in the game but saw Mohamed Salah's last minute header cleared off the line by Kyle Walker.

Van Dijk also saw a second half shot bounce down off the crossbar on to the goal-line and out.

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