Liverpool 'quality' will overcome slump, says Van Dijk
Liverpool's Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 22, 2024. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has committed his future to the Premier League club by signing a new two-year contract on April 17, 2025. The Dutch centre-back follows Mohamed Salah in ending months of speculation by extending his stay at Anfield. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
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The Reds' title defence has collapsed over the past month and they have slipped to sixth in the table. Leaders Arsenal could open a seven-point advantage over Arne Slot's men on Sunday.
Liverpool were again exposed defensively by Brentford's strength from set pieces and on the counter-attack in a 3-2 defeat in west London.
The Reds have conceded two or more goals in six of their nine league games and are without a clean sheet in nine games.
"It's difficult to say. The fact we didn't keep a clean sheet for nine games," said centre-back Van Dijk.
"It's easy to blame a particular person, the backline or set-pieces, but it's a collective thing in the end. Everyone has to look in the mirror, including myself."
"I am sure we will get out of this, but we won't do it just by talking about it. We will try to improve. We need each other, we need the support, we need the people who were celebrating with us last year to be with us now even more.
"We will get out of this because we have the quality offensively and defensively."
Slot, though, was concerned by what he regarded as the worst performance from his side in any of the defeats so far.
All three previous losses came via late goals scored by Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Manchester United.
"You cannot compare all of them but the most concerning thing is that you lose four times in a row," said Slot.
"Afterwards you can judge the performance and today was the worst in my opinion from all the four."
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