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Nicolas Pepe Officially Dribbles Past Virgil Van Dijk To Shatter His 50-Game Record
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Nicolas Pepe has become the first player to successfully dribble past Virgil van Dijk in his last 50 Premier League matches.
According to OptaJoe, the 24-year-old winger smashed Van Dijk's impressive feat during the first half of Liverpool's clash with Arsenal at Anfield.
OptaJoe tweeted: "Nicolas Pepe has become the first player to successfully dribble past Virgil van Dijk in the Dutch defender's last 50 appearances in the Premier League, since Mikel Merino in March 2018 for Newcastle. Beaten."
50 - Nicolas Pepe has become the first player to successfully dribble past Virgil van Dijk in the Dutch defender's last 50 appearances in the Premier League, since Mikel Merino in March 2018 for Newcastle. Beaten. pic.twitter.com/B1oRZMciOB
- OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 24, 2019
Nicolas Pépé is the first player to successfully dribble past Virgil van Dijk in the Premier League since Mikel Merino did so in March 2018.
50-game streak ended. pic.twitter.com/QqAx93dDBK
- Squawka Football (@Squawka) 24 August 2019
The last three players to successfully dribble past Virgil van Dijk in the Premier League:
2017: Alexandre Lacazette
2018: Mikel Merino
2019: Nicolas Pépé
Spanning three years and two different teams. :flushed: pic.twitter.com/RTKZTjK9I0
- Squawka Football (@Squawka) 24 August 2019
Pepe, who became Arsenal's club-record signing this summer, picked up the ball at the halfway line in the sixth minute as the Liverpool defender attempted to close him down.
But the Dutch centre-back was left helpless when Arsenal's marquee summer signing flicked the ball out of his reach and showed off his rapid pace down the wing.
Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus dribbled his way past the Liverpool defender, 28, in the Community Shield clash earlier this month.
But a spokesperson for the FA came out to say that Jesus' dribble didn't officially count to the stats and Van Dijk's record remained intact at the time.
Van Dijk's record has now been shattered and fans have flooded social media with reactions to Pepe ending the Liverpool star's long-running streak.
So Pepe for Arsenal becomes the first player in the Premier League to dribble past Virgil van Dijk since March 2018.
There goes the Ballon d'Or #LIVARS #vandijk
- PredictZ (@predictzcom) 24 August 2019
Van Dijk due to have nightmares of this Pepe fella
- The Scribe (@Munyajuniorm) 24 August 2019
Van Dijk is Pepe's personal escort to the corner flag #LIVARS
- Tarik Endale (@the_etheropian) 24 August 2019
Pepe dribbling past van dijk like it's nothing loll
- Jack Whitfield (@jackuuhitfield) 24 August 2019
Liverpool take a 1-0 lead into half-time thanks to Joel
Matip.
Full-time predictions?
Let us know in the comments.
UPDATE: Liverpool secured a 3-1 win against Arsenal at Anfield. Mohamed Salah bagged a second-half brace, while Lucas Torreira scored late on for the Gunners.
Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports
Topics: Liverpool, Football News, Anfield, Football, REds, Premier League, Nicolas Pépé, Virgil Van Dijk, Arsenal
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