Van Dijk: 'Liverpool lost due to carelessness'

Captain Virgil van Dijk straightforwardly pointed out the cause of Liverpool’s painful 1-2 loss against Manchester United at Anfield, the first defeat to this fierce rival in almost ten years.

Liverpool started with strong determination but were quickly shocked when Bryan Mbeumo scored for Man Utd less than two minutes into the game. Although Cody Gakpo equalized in the second half, Harry Maguire’s powerful header in the 84th minute extinguished the home side’s hopes of earning a point.

Speaking after the match on Sky Sports, Van Dijk expressed his disappointment: “I think we conceded the second goal very carelessly. The whole team worked hard to get back into the game and created many good chances to win, but conceding like that is really frustrating.”

The Dutch defender admitted Liverpool failed to control the game as usual, especially during crucial moments: “Overall, we played too hastily. Man Utd, on the other hand, were patient, didn’t press too high but also didn’t allow us to build up easily. Still, we created many chances, but the reality is… we lost.”

This defeat dropped Liverpool to third place in the Premier League standings, behind Arsenal and Manchester City. Under coach Arne Slot, the Anfield side has now lost four consecutive matches across all competitions, their worst run since November 2014.

As captain, Van Dijk called on his teammates to remain calm and patient during this difficult period: “We know what we need to do to bounce back. The whole team must stay strong, keep believing in the coaching staff’s plan, and not lose fighting spirit.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool fans expressed disappointment as they witnessed their team’s continued decline, especially with the defense—once their stronghold—making mistakes at critical moments.

The loss to Man Utd not only silenced Anfield but also served as a wake-up call for coach Arne Slot and his squad, as the Reds prepare for a congested schedule with the Champions League approaching.