Arne Slot and Liverpool have a big month ahead in the Premier League but the Reds were unable to continue that winning feeling against Sunderland on Wednesday night
07:36, 04 Dec 2025
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield on December 03, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Virgil van Dijk made his feelings clear on his Liverpool team-mates(Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)
Arne Slot's second campaign at the helm could well rest on Liverpool's challenging December schedule. The Dutch manager has so far overseen a lacklustre title defence in the Premier League.
Whilst fingers have been pointed at the club's biggest players, including Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, questions have emerged over the Reds manager's future, highlighting just how the mood has changed on Merseyside. The frustrating 1-1 draw against Sunderland on Wednesday night (December 3) only added to concerns.
Amidst the tense atmosphere engulfing the Anfield outfit, the Daily Star Sport looks at the Liverpool skipper's public singling out of two team-mates whilst revealing an interesting insight from the training pitch.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield on November 26, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images)
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Virgil van Dijk has suffered with Liverpool this season(Image: Molly Darlington/Copa, Getty Images)
Van Dijk's disclosure
Given the wealth of ability Liverpool boast within their ranks, you might expect it would prove a tough call for Van Dijk when pressed to identify which squad member pulls off the most outrageous moves during training sessions.
Yet that proved far from the case for the captain, who swiftly responded with Curtis Jones before noting: "He's very technical, top player."
The 24-year-old midfielder cemented his status as a crucial squad member under Jurgen Klopp and continues in that role under Slot.
The England international may be known for his elegant touch on the ball, but he displayed his steely character when hammering his team-mates following Liverpool's 4-1 thrashing at the hands of PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last Wednesday.
Visibly fuming when speaking to Irish broadcasters RTE, Jones declared after the final whistle: "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."
Isak singled out
LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 26: Alexander Isak of Liverpool FC during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool v PSV at the Anfield on November 26, 2025 in Liverpool United Kingdom (Photo by Marcel Bonte/Soccrates/Getty Images)
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Alexander Isak failed to follow up on his first Liverpool Premier League goal(Image: Soccrates Images, Getty Images)
Liverpool's journey to the London Stadium last Sunday delivered exactly the kind of display and outcome the club desperately needed. In what proved to be a measured and composed away showing, there was one Reds player who particularly caught Van Dijk's attention for praise.
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After the match, the skipper chose to highlight Alexander Isak for his contributions against the Hammers. Speaking about British football's record signing, the Dutch defender commented: "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."
However, Isak didn't enjoy the same level of success against Sunderland last night. The 26-year-old failed to get to a shot on target and touched the ball just 14 times before he was substituted late on for Federico Chiesa.