Van Dijk responds to criticism following Liverpool's overwhelming victory

Following Liverpool's 5-1 thrashing of Frankfurt in the Champions League, Virgil van Dijk candidly spoke about the recent series of defeats and delivered a powerful message to the doubters.

In the early hours of October 23 (Vietnam time), Liverpool ended their run of four consecutive losses with a commanding 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League. At Deutsche Bank Park, coach Arne Slot’s squad showed impressive form, with five different players scoring: Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo, and Dominik Szoboszlai. Florian Wirtz also made an impact with two assists, breaking his drought since leaving Bayer Leverkusen.

After the match, captain Virgil van Dijk responded to doubts about the team’s form. The Dutch center-back spoke calmly to TNT Sports: “I’ve been involved in football for quite some time. Losing four games in a row was disappointing – something that hadn’t happened during my time here. But you have to learn to face it and ignore the outside noise.”

When asked about the pressure after a poor run, Van Dijk added: “For me, it’s quite simple. I’ve been in this environment longer than many others. To win, you must focus on the next game. Keep moving forward and don’t get distracted by off-field issues.”

The 1991-born defender does not see the win over Frankfurt as a definitive statement, but rather a step in the right direction: “I don’t know if you can call it a declaration, but it’s still a victory. We will keep aiming for the next match.”

The emphatic win not only relieved Liverpool’s pressure but also strongly reaffirmed the resilience of the European champions. Coach Slot’s team demonstrated a powerful revival, especially in the second half with a determined comeback. This was Liverpool’s biggest Champions League win of the season so far, helping to ease the recent wave of criticism directed at them.

After this brilliant win, can Liverpool truly return to their feared status in the Champions League and defend their Premier League crown?