Unacceptable Season Cannot Be Repeated - Van Dijk

Captain Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool's play has been "unacceptable" aft Arne Slot's broadside fell to an 18th conclusion successful each competitions erstwhile they were beaten by Manchester United.

The Dutch defender has besides stressed nan request for "a batch of activity to beryllium done down nan scenes" to debar a repetition of their disappointing Premier League title defence.

"I'm not present to make excuses," Van Dijk said.

"It's been a very disappointing season, an unacceptable season, and it's tough. We shouldn't consciousness sorry for ourselves whatsoever.

"We person to activity and move this astir and make judge that adjacent play these things don't happen. It's not Liverpool."

Liverpool whitethorn still require 4 points from their remaining 3 games to corroborate Champions League qualification.

The 3-2 conclusion against Michael Carrick's broadside astatine Old Trafford came aft a three-game winning tally successful nan Premier League, but it was nan 11th nonaccomplishment of Liverpool's title defence.

The past reigning champions to suffer much convention games were Leicester (18) successful 2016-17.

"I deliberation it's unacceptable that we person mislaid excessively galore times arsenic defending champions of nan Premier League and we shouldn't judge it," said Van Dijk.

"There will beryllium a batch of activity that has to beryllium done going into adjacent season. When I americium backmost from nan World Cup I will spell into it, but location is simply a batch of activity to beryllium done down nan scenes."

The 34-year-old added: "I attraction truthful overmuch astir this club. I cognize that it has been a reliable season, but I will ever beryllium location successful bully and lesser bully days.

"But we person 3 games near and nan realisation has to travel from ourselves, arsenic a group and arsenic players, to make judge that we are successful nan Champions League because of nan effect of it for nan financial broadside for nan club. But besides because we want to beryllium playing against nan champion teams successful Europe.

"It's not easy. But we support going."