“Why we lost like that” — Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk
• Following a disheartening 3-0 loss to Serie A side Atalanta in the Europa League quarter-final first leg at Anfield, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has called upon his team to swiftly bounce back from the setback.
• Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Van Dijk addressed the disappointing result and emphasized the need for a positive response from the team.
• The defeat leaves Liverpool with a significant challenge as they head to Bergamo for the second leg, requiring a substantial comeback to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
• Virgil van Dijk acknowledged the multitude of individual errors that contributed to the defeat, attributing the loss to a series of mistakes that were ruthlessly punished by Atalanta.
• He highlighted the difficulty in establishing rhythm against Atalanta’s man-marking system and emphasized the importance of retaining possession and winning crucial challenges.
• Reflecting on the goals conceded, Van Dijk admitted that Liverpool had been left exposed due to lapses in ball retention, leading to vulnerability at the back. Despite the disappointment, he stressed the collective responsibility to improve and learn from the experience