Liverpool beat Aston Villa: Virgil van Dijk criticizes ‘absolutely ridiculous catches’ and outside noise after Reds end poor form | Football news
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has hit out at the “ridiculous holds” and negative “outside noise” he and his teammates have had to deal with during their recent losing streak.
The Reds finally got back to winning ways against Aston Villa on Saturday night, winning 2-0 at Anfield after a run of four consecutive defeats in the Premier League and six defeats in seven in all competitions.
Asked how difficult it has been as the group’s leader to maintain morale and focus during this difficult period, Van Dijk said TNT Sports: “What I have particularly noticed in recent weeks is that there is a lot of noise that you have no control over and that we have to manage as a team.
“Some of these takes are absolutely ridiculous. But you have to deal with that. These are external noises that can reach certain players, the group. It’s about sticking together.
“We don’t go out there to lose games, we don’t go out there to be disappointed after games or leave fans disappointed when we go home, we want to work our socks off and win games. But there are no guarantees. You’re playing in the Premier League, the highest level, in the biggest league in the world, and it’s hard to stay calm but you have to if you want to get back to where we want to be. It’s up there. But it’s something to be examined later in the season.
“Now it’s time to keep working, never go too high or too low.
“We live in a world now, at least for footballers, because it’s the only thing I can talk about, where everyone can have their opinion on so many platforms and everyone knows better. We have to try to stay away from that and focus on the hard work we have done.
“Last season we didn’t hear a lot of negative things. It was all sunshine and rainbows everywhere. Now the outside world has the impression that we are going to be in the relegation battle, so that’s how it works in the world.”
Slot: The fans supported me and the team
Liverpool manager Arne Slot was asked about the support from the home fans at Anfield on Saturday and he revealed that he felt for his players and still needed that support himself after criticism of their poor form.
“A lot, for sure,” Slot said of the help from fans. “Especially because it came at 0-0, so not when you are leading or when you are leading the championship, but when you are in a difficult situation as a club, as a team and because I am definitely part of it, it is also a difficult situation for me.
“And then to get the support that the players have received but also mine, that’s something that makes this club special, I think. They don’t forget if you’ve been part of something special and they help you especially if things are difficult.
“And that’s how it was in the last few weeks, things were difficult, we weren’t winning, in fact we were losing. And so they felt that the players, maybe even me, needed a little bit of support and that’s what you get from these fans.”
