Virgil Van Dijk reveals Liverpool held meeting after Manchester United loss

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

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