Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk has revealed that he called a meeting with his teammates in the aftermath of their shock 2-1 defeat to Manchester United last Sunday.
The Premier League champions suffered a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions, following earlier losses to Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea.
However, their poor run of form ended on Wednesday night when they cruised to a commanding 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League.
Speaking after the big win, Van Dijk explained to reporters that he called a meeting to address the poor mood among the players.
“On Monday, everyone was sad because we lost to United at home. We haven’t lost many games at home during my time at Liverpool.
It was tough under the circumstances so on Monday we came together, but it wasn’t a crisis meeting. We all know how things can change. We’re only in October”, Van Dijk revealed.
“Obviously, we also had a proper debrief with the manager but we also had a separate one as players. I wanted to say some things. It’s not something I do after every game. Let’s keep it that way.”
Liverpool ended their poor run with a second European win of the campaign away at Frankfurt on Wednesday night.
Van Dijk got on the scoresheet, as well as Hugo Ekitike, Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai, while summer arrival Florian Wirtz capped his best display in a Liverpool jersey with two assists.
Alexander Isak and Jeremie Frimpong’s injuries were the only blot on a perfect night as the Reds bounced back with a brilliant five-star display.
“The only way to get out of a situation like that is to stay together, keep your mind on the task ahead, try to improve, keep the confidence, embrace the moment. They are all things that are easier to say than actually do. But if you want to get out of it, you have to do it”, the Dutch captain added.
“We live in a world now where there is always noise, always something to be said, always someone who knows better. We have to stay focused on ourselves.
“Before my meeting, yes (the mood was low) but after my meeting, everyone was happy!”
Liverpool will look to end their winless run in the EPL this weekend, when they battle Brentford on Saturday night.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
