Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk lifts lid on team meeting after Manchester United defeat | OneFootball

The Reds’ captain said he called for unity after losing four matches in a row

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has revealed that he called a team meeting after the Reds were beaten at home by Manchester United last weekend.

Sunday’s 2-1 defeat, confirmed by Harry Maguire’s 84th-minute header, was the Premier League champions’ fourth successive loss and brought the squad in for considerable criticism.

They roared back to form on Wednesday night, though, routing Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in the Champions League with a rotated squad.

"On Monday, everyone was sad because we lost to United at home,” he explained to reporters. “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.

"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 were back to form as they eased past Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday night

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

He continued, adding that he implored his team-mates to stay focused as they looked to break their losing run.

"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.

"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.”

His meeting seemed to have the desired effect, too: "Before my meeting, yes (the mood was low) but after my meeting, everyone was happy!"