Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool season \u201cunacceptable\u201d after defeat to Manchester United<\/p>\n
Virgil van Dijk, the captain of Liverpool, said that his team\u2019s season was \u201cunacceptable\u201d following a loss under manager Arne Slot in a match against Manchester United, which marked their 18th defeat across all competitions. The Dutch defender also stressed the need for \u201ca lot of work behind the scenes\u201d to avoid repeating the mistakes made while defending the Premier League title.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not here to make excuses,\u201d Van Dijk said. \u201cIt has been a very disappointing season, an unacceptable season, and the reality is tough. We should not feel sorry for ourselves at all. We need to work and change this situation, ensuring this does not happen again next season. This is not Liverpool.\u201d<\/p>\n
Liverpool may still need four points from their remaining three matches to secure qualification for the Champions League. The 3\u20132 defeat to Michael Carrick\u2019s side at Old Trafford came after a three-match winning streak in the Premier League, but it was Liverpool\u2019s eleventh defeat while defending their title. The last title holders to suffer more defeats were Leicester City, who lost 18 matches during the 2016\u20132017 season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think losing so many games as defending Premier League champions is unacceptable and we should not accept it,\u201d Van Dijk said. \u201cThere will be a lot of work to be done starting next season. When I return from the World Cup, I will begin, but there is a lot of work to be done behind the scenes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 34-year-old added: \u201cI care deeply about our team. I know it has been a difficult season, but I will always be there in good days and less fortunate days. But we still have three games left, and the focus must come from ourselves as a team and as players to secure Champions League football because of its financial impact on the club. But also because we want to play against the best teams in Europe. It is not easy. But we are moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
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