Liverpool have a busy December period to negotiate as Arne Slot looks to revive their fortunes in the Premier League
Virgil van Dijk has offered some clear opinions on his Liverpool team-mates
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Arne Slot's second term at the helm could well be shaped by Liverpool's challenging set of fixtures in December. The Dutch manager has so far presided over a lacklustre defence of their Premier League crown.
While the club's biggest stars, such as Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, have borne the brunt of criticism, questions have been raised about the Reds boss' position, highlighting the severity of the situation at Anfield.
Amidst the tense atmosphere surrounding the Merseyside giants, we delve into the Liverpool captain's discussion of two team-mates and his revelation from the training ground.
Van Dijk's disclosure
Given the wealth of talent in Liverpool's squad, one might assume it would be a tough decision for Van Dijk to single out the player who does the most outrageous things in training. However, the skipper didn't hesitate to name Curtis Jones, adding: "He's very technical, top player."
The 24-year-old midfielder has become a crucial squad member under both Jurgen Klopp and now Slot. The England star is known for his smooth skills on the ball but demonstrated his tougher side when he criticised his team following Liverpool's 4-1 defeat by PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last Wednesday.
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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot speaks with Curtis Jones during the Premier League match at West Ham United on November 30 2025
Curtis Jones slammed his team after their 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven
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Visibly irate during his post-match interview with Irish broadcasters RTE, Jones expressed: "It's unacceptable to be honest. As I said, I don't even have the words, I'm past being angry and sad, I'm at the point now where I don't have the words. It's hard to find the words.
"I'm a player and a fan, I'm seeing it like this, I haven't experienced a team play like this bad and results like this. At the end of the day, we still have that badge on our chest, until that badge goes, we're always going to fight, try get this team to where it needs to be and show why Liverpool is the best team in the world. But as of now, we're in the s*** and it needs to change."
Two team-mates singled out
Liverpool's 2-0 win over West Ham at the London Stadium last Sunday was a performance and result the side sorely needed. In what was a measured and disciplined away display, two Reds stars in particular received special commendation from Van Dijk.
After the match, the captain chose to laud Alexander Isak and Joe Gomez for their performances against the Hammers. Speaking about the most expensive player in British football history, the Dutchman commented on the striker: "We know that things haven't been so good for us recently, but Sunday was extremely welcome, in terms of both the result and the performance.
"It was great to see Alexander Isak score his first Premier League goal for the club. Alex has not had the easiest time since joining, as I'm sure he would tell you himself, but he has been working extremely hard behind the scenes, and we know the quality he possesses. He is a clinical finisher, and hopefully that was the first of many league goals in a Liverpool shirt."
Alexander Isak and Joe Gomez of Liverpool FC practice during a training session at AXA Melwood Training Centre
Alexander Isak and Joe Gomez came in for praise from Virgil van Dijk
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Last Sunday marked Gomez's first Premier League start in 11 months and the England international delivered a faultless performance in the right-back position. Having been team-mates with the 28-year-old for nearly eight years, Van Dijk said: "I'd also like to mention Joe Gomez, on what was his first league start of the season.
"I have said many times previously that in order to be successful, we are going to need everybody to be ready to play their part, whether it's from the start or off the bench. I thought Joey was outstanding on the day, so big credit to him."