Virgil Van Dijk reveals Liverpool held meeting after Manchester United loss | OneFootball

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk (34) has revealed he called a players’ meeting in the wake of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield, but insisted it was not a “crisis” summit.

The loss, Liverpool’s fourth consecutive defeat, left the Reds joint third in the Premier League, four points adrift of leaders Arsenal, and deepened concerns over their early-season form under new manager Arne Slot.

Van Dijk said the squad gathered at their Kirkby training base on Monday to clear the air and address the dip in performances. “On Monday, everyone was sad because we lost to United at home. We haven’t lost many games at Anfield during my time here,” the Dutchman told reporters, including BBC Sport. “It wasn’t a crisis meeting, but I wanted to say some things. It was important to be open and honest.”

The message appeared to have an immediate impact. Liverpool ended their month-long winless run with a commanding 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday, with goals from Hugo Ekitike, Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Cody Gakpo.

“The only way out is together,” Van Dijk added. “You keep the confidence, stay focused, and block out the noise.”

Liverpool’s resurgence, however, came at a cost, with Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak suffering muscle injuries. The Reds travel to Brentford on Saturday, seeking to build momentum and close the gap at the top.

GFN | Finn Entwistle