Virgil van Dijk insists Liverpool aren’t ready to give up on the Premier League title despite Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at Man City.
The Reds slumped to a fifth defeat in six Premier League games at the Etihad as goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez, and Jeremy Doku secured a vital win for City on Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th game in management.
After suffering a fourth consecutive away defeat for the first time since April 2012, the result leaves Liverpool eight points behind Arsenal.
But Van Dijk is refusing to give up on the Premier League title and insists his side are ready for a “long season and a big fight” when they return to action after the November international break.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 9, 2025: Manchester City's Jérémy Doku celebrates after scoring the third goal during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“It’s about finding consistency and carrying on,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports. “Now we go to our countries, stay fit and be ready for a big run after. We are not going to give up whatsoever. We are in November and we are ready for a long season and a big fight.”
The afternoon could have played out differently if Van Dijk’s header seven minutes before half-time hadn’t been ruled out for offside.
The Dutchman thought he had drawn Liverpool level when he headed past Gianluigi Donnarumma after connecting with Mohamed Salah’s corner.
But the effort was quickly ruled out, with Andy Robertson standing in an offside position and deemed to have made an “obvious action” in front of Donnarumma.
‘You guys can debate if my goal should have stood’
He, however, refused to be drawn on whether his header should have been allowed to stand – instead insisting the result was a “big blow” for the Premier League champions.
“In football the officials are deciding the key decisions and we have to deal with it on the pitch,” added Van Dijk.
“There is no point discussing this from my point of view. The reality is that we lost 3-0 and that is a big blow.
“It doesn’t matter what I say [about the goal] because anything I say will be in the media and the whole international break will be about my comment on the decision. I just focus on the fact we lost. You guys can debate if it should have stood.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 9, 2025: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz reacts to his side conceeding the third goal during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“The first half was difficult and they were much more comfortable on the ball and it was difficult for our guys to put pressure on them. I don’t think there was a lot of danger, but Doku had a good game and it was difficult for Conor [Bradley] in the one on one at times. I don’t think we were much in trouble but we could have done better.
“We had to dig deep in the second half. We got more momentum in possession but out pressing wasn’t good enough.”
Liverpool aren’t in action until November 22, when they take on Nottingham Forest at Anfield.