Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has candidly shared his thoughts after the Reds were held to a 2-2 draw at Anfield against Manchester United. Despite taking the lead late in the game, Liverpool couldn’t hold on for all three points and were nearly punished in the final moments.
United’s Harry Maguire missed a crucial chance to score a last-minute winner, sending Joshua Zirkee’s pass over the bar. Reflecting on the match, Van Dijk acknowledged that the outcome could have been much worse for Liverpool.
“It could have been a lot worse if we’re honest,” Van Dijk told BBC Radio 5 Live. “They had a big chance at the end, and it could’ve been a much tougher result for us. I’m disappointed we dropped points at home, but we have to move on.”
Despite a strong second-half comeback, where Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead after falling behind to Lisandro Martinez’s early goal, the Reds were pegged back by Amad Diallo’s equalizer from an Alejandro Garnacho assist. Van Dijk admitted that Liverpool struggled to control the game after taking the lead.
“We found the 2-1, and then it’s about keeping control. But we lost the ball too often, and we were too open defensively,” Van Dijk explained. “We’re not perfect, and we’re still learning. This is another lesson for us.”
Although some had expected Liverpool to comfortably beat United—especially given United’s poor form and position in the table—Van Dijk dismissed any suggestion that Liverpool underestimated their rivals.
“That’s all media talk,” he said. “It’s nothing to do with us. We prepared for a very tough game, and that’s exactly what we got.”
Van Dijk also emphasized that Liverpool is not focused on their position at the top of the table, but rather on taking each game as it comes.
“We look at the next game; we don’t look at the league table,” he added.
The draw means Liverpool dropped two vital points but remains at the top of the Premier League. Van Dijk’s comments reveal that the team is aware of its mistakes and is determined to learn and improve as the season progresses.
