Van Dijk Compares PSG Challenge to Historic Barcelona Comeback
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has likened the daunting task facing his team against Paris Saint-Germain to the legendary 2019 comeback against Barcelona. However, he conceded that belief within Arne Slot's squad may not be as robust during what he described as an "unacceptable" season for the club.
Liverpool's Uphill Battle After Paris Defeat
The Reds require another miraculous Anfield revival to keep their Champions League hopes alive following a 2-0 first-leg quarter-final defeat to PSG on Wednesday. Despite the scoreline flattering the Premier League champions, who were outclassed at the Parc des Princes, Van Dijk remains "100%" convinced the tie can be overturned on home soil. His confidence is fueled by memories of Liverpool's 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the 2019 semi-finals, after trailing 3-0 from the first leg, which propelled them to a sixth European Cup triumph.
Van Dijk highlighted parallels, noting, "Back then, you play one of the best teams in Europe, with obviously one of the best players ever in that team and we had injuries. And now we play against the best team in Europe. They're the European champions, so I think it is similar in terms of, on paper, probably no one gives us a chance." He emphasized the need for internal belief, a solid gameplan from manager Arne Slot, and relentless intensity from start to finish.
Admitting to an Unacceptable Campaign
The defender did not shy away from criticizing Liverpool's current form, labeling the season's 16 defeats in all competitions as "unacceptable." Including the Community Shield loss on penalties, this tally rises to 17, underscoring a stark contrast to the success under former manager Jürgen Klopp. Van Dijk acknowledged the difficulty in dealing with this reality, stating, "It's very tough to deal with it. Things will eventually always come to an end, including my time at a certain point."
He pointed out inconsistencies in performance, adding, "At the moment, the reality is that we are inconsistent. We are losing too many games. We're having some good moments, and we don't stay consistent in that sense." Despite the struggles, Van Dijk urged his teammates to unite and improve, recalling that the club has overcome similar challenges in the past.
Tactical Adjustments and Glimmers of Hope
Liverpool had limited preparation time for the three-man central defence deployed by Slot in Paris, a formation used for the first time during his tenure. Despite a three-game losing streak, Van Dijk finds optimism in recent performances, such as the recovery against Galatasaray in the last 16 and last season's encounter with PSG at Anfield, which ended in a penalty shootout loss.
The captain reflected, "Obviously, it's a different quality team that we face with all due respect [to Galatasaray]. But the game we played against them [PSG] last year, we lost on penalties, but if you analyse that game we started so well, full of energy, created the biggest chance in Mo [Salah] when Nuno Mendes blocked the ball. That could have changed the game." He stressed that turning the tie around requires everything to click against a team excelling in every department, coupled with belief, pride, and the collective hurt felt in the dressing room.
