Virgil van Dijk delivered a firm eight-word message to his teammates in the dressing room after Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. The reigning Premier League champions are enduring a difficult October, with their first home loss to United since 2016 marking a fourth consecutive defeat after previous setbacks against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, and Chelsea.
Such a poor run is rare on Merseyside—the last time Liverpool suffered a similar streak was back in November 2014 under Brendan Rodgers. What’s most concerning, however, isn’t the heavy summer spending spree that made them the world’s biggest spenders, but the growing uncertainty around how to get their season back on track.
Big-money arrivals Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have struggled to make an impact, while veterans like Mohamed Salah and Van Dijk are starting to show signs of decline. Yet, despite the mounting pressure from fans and pundits, those inside the camp insist that the mood remains calm.
While some imagined a tense dressing room filled with frustration and blame, reports suggest the atmosphere was composed. Manager Arne Slot, known for his steady approach, kept his cool, and Van Dijk’s post-match message summed up the team’s resolve:
> “You cannot hide, you have to keep going.”
The 34-year-old captain also reminded the squad that mental recovery is just as crucial as physical rest as they prepare to travel to Germany for Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Just a year ago, Liverpool were seen as a team in transition, yet they went on to lift the Premier League trophy. Slot, ever the realist, knows that the true rebuilding process is happening now after a massive squad overhaul this summer.
Despite the recent slump, Slot remains confident that his side’s quality will shine through soon. With only four points separating Liverpool from league leaders Arsenal, there’s still plenty of time to turn things around—starting with their European fixture this week, followed by a Premier League trip to Brentford.
The show goes on, and for Liverpool, it’s about finding their rhythm again rather than sounding the alarm.
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