Virgil van Dijk has urged Liverpool to keep sight of their status as Premier League champions, calling for perspective following a bruising run of results.
The Reds suffered their third consecutive defeat on Saturday as Chelsea snatched a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge through Estevao Willian’s stoppage-time strike.
That loss followed a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday night and last weekend’s 2-1 reverse against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Van Dijk admitted that the significant turnover in playing staff this season meant a challenging adaptation period was always expected within Arne Slot’s new-look squad.
The Liverpool captain also reminded supporters and teammates of the team’s achievements last season, when they stormed to the league title by 10 points.
“It was always going to be a difficult season,” Van Dijk said.
“I mentioned it from the very start already. We have to go through this as one, not only us as players but also the staff and our fans who celebrated being champions, which is something we shouldn’t forget.
“It was a quite open game, of course, in the second half especially. Both teams trying to go for the win and to concede like that is obviously not a great feeling, especially going into the international break.
“We got results, definitely; we found a way. It is a bit ironic that we concede in two different games in the last minute. There is still plenty of work to do. We know in football, every three or four days, things can change and momentum can change. But we have to work to get there first.
“The seven, eight days have been tough for all of us but we are the ones, together with the staff and the fans, who can turn this around. I’m confident of that.
“It is about us seeing that perspective as players and staff. I want the fans to also see that perspective as well. But we live in a world where there is so much noise going on and you have to deal with that as well. It is down to us to keep working, find results, stick together, and find confidence.
“[We need to do] what we were doing last year, when everyone was so happy. Now we have a little bit of a tough moment, which can change pretty quickly, but we have to work for it.
“That is something we realise and we need to do it all together, as we always have been doing over these years, especially when I’ve been here at the club because there have been some ups and downs.
“That is the only way out of it. It sounds a bit simple, but that is the only way to do it. Let’s go for it. No fan of us wants to come here and lose and go home and feel disappointed. So we have to keep going and stick together.”
Van Dijk also dismissed suggestions that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid has affected the team.
He said: “It’s not about him. He had amazing quality but he left us.
“Last year, we played a lot of games without him as well. Obviously we were all gutted that he left in the summer, but that is not the issue.
“How we work, it happened all season last year, and everything was positive and everyone was happy, and now we have a little blip, if you want to call it like that, and now we need everyone more than ever to support us and be there for us.
“It is not that easy [to sum up the problems]. Obviously [new players adjusting] plays a part as well, but that shouldn’t be the only focus. It is a combination of everything.
“It is down to us to work to turn this around and find consistency, to not concede goals, to score goals, to create, to not give up chances against us.
“How we work, it happened all season last year, and everything was positive and everyone was happy, and now we have a little blip, if you want to call it like that, and now we need everyone more than ever to support us and be there for us.
“Like I said, every three or four days is another opportunity, after the international break now, to find that momentum and consistency, and keep it.
“I’ve been at the club for such a long time, there have been many difficult situations and we got out of them.
“It’s not for everyone to just accept it and move on, but the only thing we can do is focus on the next opportunity we have and work on it.
“Obviously now everyone goes to different countries and everyone has the responsibility to try and stay fit and do well.
“But when we come back, we have a very big game against Manchester United where I am already very much looking forward to it.
“It’s an opportunity again to show what we have been showing last year throughout the whole season.
“That is the reason we became champions and made so many people around the world happy.
“Now we need the chance to get to that point again, and work is the basis to it, finding consistency and sticking together.”
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