Roy Hodgson claims he is 'disillusioned' with football after Jordan Ayew picked up a red card during Crystal Palace's defeat to Liverpool... and blasts Virgil Van Dijk for his role in 'trying to get the opposition carded'

Roy Hodgson admitted he was ‘disillusioned’ with football after Liverpool came from behind to beat his Crystal Palace side 2-1 to put further pressure on the 76-year-old.

‘If you want to describe my mood as disillusioned, you’ve probably chosen the right word. Yes, I’m disillusioned,’ said Hodgson. 

'This game was pretty much an amalgam of what the game is these days because you never know going into the game whether you’re going to give a good performance and then the referee is going to give a penalty in the 91st minute or because of VAR when the ball is adjudged to have hit someone’s hands even though they’re in a natural position. 

'That’s the reality of our situation and it’s the same with the sending off. 

'Why do we get a sending off? Because a player couldn’t get away quick enough before the opponent kicked the ball against him so he’s wasting time,’ added the Palace boss.

Jordan Ayew was sent off in the 75th minute when Palace were 1-0 up and Hodgson went on to blast Virgil van Dijk for his role in Ayew’s first booking. Ayew was stood directly in front of Van Dijk before a Liverpool free kick and the Liverpool defender hit the ball straight at Ayew, who was booked for time wasting.

‘With the sending off - which I totally disagree with in every respect - I’m really disappointed that Virgil van Dijk should kick the ball against Jordan to get him the first yellow card,’ said Hodgson.

‘I thought the second yellow card was a tackle. Whether it was a foul or not, I didn’t think it was a yellow so to force us to play with ten men for the last 15 minutes plus added time was really harsh. ‘Liverpool do not need players of that quality and status trying to get an opposition player a yellow card,’ the Palace boss added.

A minute after Ayew was sent off for his second booking, Liverpool equalised through Mohamed Salah’s 200th goal for the club before Harvey Elliott scored the winner in injury time.

‘It did (change the game),’ admitted Hodgson. ‘You would not believe how upset or disappointed the players were.’

Liverpool went top of the league with victory and have now won 18 points from losing positions this season - more than any other team.

‘I’m very happy but I know we were lucky as well, said Jurgen Klopp. ‘I told the boys that’s the first time I saw someone play as bad as we did for 76 minutes and still win,’ said Klopp, who presented Salah with a special shirt for his landmark achievement.

‘We’ve carried that shirt for two weeks and finally we gave it to him. It’s an incredible number for a super special player. I don’t know how often he’s saved us with goals in the right moment. It was a pretty loud reception when I gave him the shirt with the number 200 in the changing room. Now we can go for the next 100.’