The Reds are under pressure ahead of the Champions League clash with Frankfurt. Captain Virgil van Dijk appeals for unity within the team.
Captain Virgil van Dijk has called for a siege mentality at English football champions FC Liverpool in light of the worsening crisis.
During this “interesting” phase, the team featuring national player Florian Wirtz must “stick together,” emphasizes the Dutchman after the bitter 1-2 defeat against arch-rival Manchester United, their fourth consecutive competitive defeat.
Such a losing streak was last experienced by the Reds in 2014 under team manager Brendan Rodgers, who lost his job shortly afterward to a certain Jürgen Klopp. Should Liverpool also lose on Wednesday (9:00 PM/ DAZN ) in the Champions League at Eintracht Frankfurt, it would become historic: Five consecutive defeats last occurred in September 1953.
“We must remain humble and keep working,” demanded van Dijk: “When things get tough, it’s important that we maintain the mentality of being there for each other. It’s a long season.”
Team manager Arne Slot admitted: “When you lose four times in a row, you have to be concerned. We know how football works. That affects the team.” What gives him courage? That his team with joker Wirtz, who initiated the temporary 1-1, created many chances.
However, these were miserably wasted almost without exception. Furthermore, Liverpool again showed vulnerability to set pieces and conceded their fifth goal from a dead ball situation – at the same point in the previous championship season, the Reds’ defense had been spotless in this regard.
“The life of a football manager is a constant challenge,” said Slot: “But are we losing confidence? I don’t see that yet.”