Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk has opened up on the unplanned team meeting he decided to arrange after their dismal 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United on Sunday
Virgil van Dijk has revealed why he organised the unscheduled squad gathering that has sparked Liverpool’s revival. The Reds cruised to a commanding 5-1 Champions League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany on Wednesday night to help turn around their fortunes after suffering four consecutive defeats.
Arne Slot’s team faced fierce scrutiny following their 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, which threatened to plunge them into their worst sequence of results in 72 years. The squad returned to training the next day for their standard post-match analysis with the coaching staff, with Van Dijk also calling an unscheduled players-only summit to tackle the problems plaguing what has been a challenging campaign so far.
The Liverpool captain confessed there were several issues he believed required discussion amongst the revamped squad. “On Monday everyone was sad because we lost to Man United at home,” the 34-year-old said.
“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 wasn’t a crisis meeting. It’s not something I do after every game. Let’s keep it that way!”
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Van Dijk continued: “Nobody wants to lose four games in a row but it was the situation we faced. We had to stay calm and block out all the noise from the outside because that’s something you can’t control.
“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. Was atmosphere lower than usual? Before my meeting yes, after my meeting everyone was happy!”
Slot made several notable decisions for the showdown at Deutsche Bank Park. Mohamed Salah was amongst those dropped to the bench as the Reds switched to a 4-4-2 formation featuring Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak as strike partners and Florian Wirtz deployed on the right flank.
Isak made way at the interval with a groin complaint that may cast doubt over his availability for Saturday’s Premier League fixture at Brentford, but strike partner Ekitike found the net for Liverpool’s leveller and Wirtz delivered his finest display since his £116million summer switch from Bayer Leverkusen by setting up second-half goals for Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Discussing the tactical switch, Van Dijk revealed: “It’s something we worked on in training since the weekend. We all know we have quality players who can adapt to different formations and operate in different roles. Frankfurt changed a bit their style of play by trying to play a bit like Man United did without a real striker, but we did well. We scored some really good goals.
“For Florian, the noise is always going to be there. When you play for Liverpool, it’s something you have to embrace. It’s part and parcel. He just has to take it and focus on what we think of him and what we want from him.”
Ekitike’s strike marked his sixth in 12 appearances since his £79m switch from Frankfurt during the summer. It was a great ball from Robbo (Andy Robertson) and a great finish,” said Van Dijk. “With the run he made, Hugo made it impossible for the defender. It came at an important time for us and I’m really happy for Hugo.”
Van Dijk bagged his second of the campaign with a towering header from a Gakpo corner, before centre-half partner Ibrahima Konate turned home a Szoboszlai delivery moments later for Liverpool’s third. Slot has recently urged his side to show more killer instinct from set-pieces, and Van Dijk said: “We just had to keep going and keep trying with them.
“We’ve come close many times from corners so far this season. Myself and Ibou [Konate] were able to get our heads on the end of them and contribute for the team.”
Liverpool face their third fixture in a gruelling run of seven crucial matches across 22 days when they travel to Brentford on Saturday, where they’ll come up against ex-captain Jordan Henderson and former Reds players Caoimhin Kelleher, Fabio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg.
“It’s always difficult there,” said Van Dijk. “This was an important win for us. We’ll take a lot of positives from it but Saturday is another big challenge. We need to recover physically and mentally, and be ready for a tough one.”
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