Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has delivered a stark reality check after his side's turbulent campaign hit a new low—an 18th defeat across all competitions, this time at the hands of Manchester United. The Dutch defender didn't mince words, calling the season "unacceptable" and vowing that significant changes are needed behind the scenes to prevent a repeat.
"I'm not here to make excuses," Van Dijk stated firmly. "It's been a very disappointing season, an unacceptable season, and it's tough. We shouldn't feel sorry for ourselves whatsoever. We have to work and turn this around and make sure that next season these things don't happen. It's not Liverpool."
The 3-2 loss at Old Trafford marked the 11th Premier League defeat for Arne Slot's side—a staggering tally for defending champions. To put that in perspective, the last reigning champions to lose more league games were Leicester City, who suffered 18 losses back in 2016-17. Despite a brief three-game winning streak, Liverpool's inconsistency has been their undoing.
With just three matches remaining, Liverpool still need at least four points to secure Champions League qualification—a must for both the club's finances and its prestige. "We want to be playing against the best teams in Europe," Van Dijk emphasized. "The realisation has to come from ourselves, as a group and as players, to make sure that we are in the Champions League because of the impact of it for the financial side for the club."
The 34-year-old captain, who will soon head to the World Cup, made it clear that the work starts now. "There will be a lot of work that has to be done going into next season. When I am back from the World Cup I will go into it, but there is a lot of work to be done behind the scenes."
Despite the struggles, Van Dijk reaffirmed his commitment to the club. "I care so much about this club. I know that it has been a tough season, but I will always be there in good and lesser good days." For Liverpool fans and players alike, the message is clear: this season's failures cannot—and will not—define their future.