Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has spoken candidly following the club’s disappointing run of back-to-back defeats against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray. While the Reds were unable to bounce back with a victory in Istanbul, the Dutch defender believes there were visible improvements in the team’s attitude and determination compared to the performance at Selhurst Park.
Van Dijk, who has never hidden his frustration with defeat, emphasized that there is no room for panic within the squad but accepted that significant progress is still required. “I hate losing, and of course it never feels good,” he said. “Against Galatasaray, at least there was more willingness, more hard work, and that’s a step up from the weekend. But let’s be honest, the standard we set against Crystal Palace was so poor that it wasn’t difficult to improve on it.”
Despite the stronger application, costly mistakes once again haunted Liverpool. The Reds conceded through a penalty and missed several chances that could have changed the outcome of the game. Van Dijk was honest in his reflection: “It’s easy to talk about avoiding silly errors and converting chances, but it’s a lot harder to actually do it. That’s the challenge we face as a team.”
The captain also addressed the narrative surrounding new signings, insisting that the current struggles cannot be pinned solely on fresh arrivals. “It’s not about the new players,” Van Dijk stressed. “Sometimes the focus is too much on them. Of course, they need time to adapt, but this is about the whole team. We have to work together, stick together, and keep pushing forward. That’s the only way we’ll come through this.”
With a crucial trip to Stamford Bridge up next, Van Dijk’s words carry weight in a Liverpool camp under pressure to respond. The message from the skipper is clear: the improvement has begun, but consistency, composure, and sharper execution are now non-negotiable if the Reds are to turn their season around.
