Virgil van Dijk has described the manner of Liverpool's 3-2 Champions League defeat to Fenerbahce as unacceptable, with the Reds captain warning that defensive improvements are needed before Sunday's trip to Crystal Palace.
The Reds took the lead in Turkey through Trey Nyoni's volley but were pegged back before half-time when Mason Greenwood's free-kick deflected past Alisson Becker off Jeremy Jacquet. Substitute Alexander Isak nodded the visitors in front at Chobani Stadium, but two goals in six minutes from Archie Brown and Vedat Muriqi secured a first Champions League victory for the Turkish club since 2008.
Van Dijk: 'We should not accept losing'
Van Dijk was left frustrated by the collapse and admitted the group must improve defensively, particularly in Europe, where Andoni Iraola's men have now conceded 10 goals in their four fixtures.
"I mentioned last game (1-0 defeat to Arsenal), we as a group have to go through good moments but also lesser good moments," Van Dijk said. "That will only form a bigger bond, it will be only beneficial. No one wants to lose games, especially how we did today but it should only help us in the near future. We should not accept losing especially in the manner we did today."
"Yes [I was angry], but I didn't show it today because everyone looked disappointed and they have a reason to be, they should be disappointed. We cannot lose in the manner we did today. But we did that and it is down to Fenerbahce as well."
Palace clash described as 'massive'
Van Dijk stressed the importance of Sunday's match against Crystal Palace, which comes before the international break as Liverpool look to avoid a third straight defeat.
"The Palace game? It's massive. Listen, it's massive. When we are back in Liverpool and preparing and recovering physically and mentally we will be looking forward," he said. "It is always tough at Palace and I don't expect anything different. There is always noise and people say or have opinions about us all the time. Our focus is only on improving. We have been very good at defending set pieces but today we haven't."
"That's something we have to do better. This is a difficult one to take but tomorrow we have to go to focus on Sunday. And for our supporters it is just a shame, I feel sorry for all of them. Definitely not sustainable [defensively]. That's why it is a very disappointing night, for many reasons but definitely the goals we conceded and the manner we conceded them as well. There is work to do."
Set-piece struggles
Van Dijk pointed to the three set-piece goals conceded as a key concern, noting the team had been strong in that area this season.
"Yes, it's very, very tough. Three set pieces as well. We have been very good at them so far this season but we switched off and were not ready for the first and second balls. Yeah, it is a tough one to take," he added.
"It was a great atmosphere and everyone embraced it. I didn't feel it played a part but, yeah, these things obviously [happen]. Certain things happen to have an impact but I don't think the atmosphere [affected us]."
