Virgil van Dijk has delivered a damning assessment of Liverpool's FA Cup quarter-final exit, admitting the team gave up during their 4-0 defeat to Manchester City. The loss at the Etihad marked the Reds' 15th of the season, their worst tally since 2014/15, and left the captain apologising to travelling supporters.
Speaking after the match, Van Dijk pointed to a lack of intensity and togetherness as key factors in the collapse. Liverpool conceded four goals in a 20-minute spell either side of half-time, with the Dutch defender suggesting the team's mentality wavered. 'You shouldn't give up, and that's maybe what happened at a certain point,' he said.
The result heaps further pressure on manager Arne Slot, whose side have taken just one point from their last nine Premier League games and now face a Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. Van Dijk acknowledged the difficulty of the current campaign, stating: 'Mentally it has been a very tough season overall.'
Van Dijk stressed the need for collective responsibility, insisting the players must look in the mirror. 'We have a responsibility, not only to ourselves but especially to the fans,' he said. 'If we want to make something out of this season, we have to try and do something special in the next three games.'
