Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has admitted the season has been “mentally very tough” but has urged his team to salvage something special from the final three games.
The 34-year-old Dutch centre-back spoke after Saturday’s humbling 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick and Antoine Semenyo added a fourth as Liverpool crashed out of the competition. The result leaves Liverpool with only the Premier League to focus on, with their hopes of silverware hanging by a thread.
Van Dijk, widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, made clear the team’s duty to supporters. “But 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.”
Liverpool now face a decisive run-in to the campaign. Van Dijk, who captains both club and country, will need to lead a response from a side that has struggled for consistency.