Van Dijk Remains Optimistic Despite Liverpool’s Setback Against Manchester City

Virgil van Dijk has stated that there is “no point” in examining the Premier League table following Liverpool’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City. Despite the defeat, he remains optimistic about the club’s potential to revitalize their season.

Arne Slot’s team experienced their fifth league defeat of the season at the Etihad Stadium, with goals from Erling Haaland, Nico González, and Jérémy Doku securing the victory for Manchester City. This result positions Liverpool in eighth place, trailing leaders Arsenal by eight points. However, Van Dijk believes that focusing on the title race is premature.

“There’s no point in looking at the table for us; that’s it,” the defender remarked. “If we lose as many games as we have, I don’t think we can be concerned with the standings at this moment. However, I have been in the game long enough to know that seasons are not decided in November or December. It’s in March or April when the situation becomes clearer. We aspire to be in contention but recognize that there is a long road ahead filled with hard work. We must remain humble and committed, as that is our sole focus.”

Van Dijk believed he had equalized Haaland’s opener with a header late in the first half, but the goal was disallowed after Andy Robertson was controversially deemed to be obstructing Gianluigi Donnarumma’s line of sight.

“I don’t know who was on VAR, Michael Oliver perhaps? The officials must make the right decisions for the game,” Van Dijk stated. “Today, it was decided that the goal wouldn’t count because Andy Robertson was allegedly hindering Donnarumma; however, I believe the goal should have stood. That’s all I will say, but I am not the one making the decisions.”

Reflecting on how Liverpool can rebound from this latest setback, Van Dijk noted, “You don’t forget results like this. If you do, you won’t improve. It’s essential to analyze what went wrong today so we can enhance our performance. I feel a sense of responsibility; what could we have done better? We need to carry that mindset into future matches. There’s no reason to become overly optimistic; we faced tough opponents this week, managing two wins out of three, and we must keep persevering.

“This season has been challenging for various reasons, but I am confident we can turn it around. Progress doesn’t happen overnight; we need to keep working, ensuring everyone remains fit to contribute. That is crucial for all of us in the dressing room.”