Liverpool's frustrating season has brought new blows in recent days with frustrations on and off the pitch for Arne Slot
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool looks dejected following the team's defeat during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on February 08, 2026
Virgil van Dijk cut a hugely frusrated figure after an eighth Premier League defeat of the season(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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There's no time for Liverpool to stew over their comeback defeat to Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday. Dominik Szoboszlai's spectacular free-kick was nullified by a Bernardo Silva goal and an Erling Haaland penalty, before the Hungarian was sent off in a VAR review that also disallowed a third goal from Rayan Cherki.
The Reds have the opportunity to swiftly move the disappointment, although Wednesday's journey to the Stadium of Light - where Sunderland remain undefeated in the Premier League this season - will pose another tough challenge. Szoboszlai will be absent for Arne Slot, who's already grappling with an injury crisis.
Despite his selection difficulties, Slot needs to get his team's pursuit of Champions League football back on track with just 13 matches remaining. Otherwise, the Dutchman could find his position under serious scrutiny.
Captain Virgil van Dijk is fully aware of the task ahead, while there's more worrying news regarding new recruit Jeremy Jacquet. Here, we take a look at the latest headlines surrounding the Reds.
Van Dijk issues demand
Following a match where Haaland was kept relatively quiet for most of the 90 minutes, the skipper was visibly exasperated after the 2-1 loss. He called for his team-mates to raise their standards following yet another late goal conceded in added time - their sixth of the campaign, resulting in eight dropped points.
"I think you can't compare all of the goals [conceded in stoppage time]," Van Dijk said. "I think maybe you can compare the Crystal Palace goal and the Bournemouth goal but this one you can't compare with the others. But the fact is that we conceded that late on and I keep saying it but we have to do better in this.
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool gives instructions during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on February 8, 2026
Van Dijk has called for improvements(Image: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
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"You also have to remember that you're playing against City, who are obviously very comfortable on the ball, and at times, when you don't win the ball, because we did many times as well, I think making the right decisions could have been better.
"But yeah, it's easy now to maybe say that we dropped off too much and that's why they scored the equaliser. Overall the feeling that I have right now is that in the first half we weren't good enough, in the second half we were much better but still disappointed we lost.
"At the moment [we don't take positives] because I'm disappointed that we lost. But I will do everything in my power to recover and then we'll discuss it and then we have to turn our attention very, very quickly to an opponent that is having a very good season, especially at home, so it will be a big battle."
Jacquet 'could require surgery'
Jeremy Jacquet of Stade Rennais FC during the Ligue 1 McDonald's match between Lens and Rennes
Jacquet could miss the rest of the season if his worst fears are realised(Image: Emilian Baldow/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
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Jacquet's £60million move for the summer was finalised during an otherwise subdued January transfer window for the Reds. The 20-year-old stayed at Rennes for the remainder of the season to further his development in France.
However, this plan may now be moot, with L'Equipe reporting that he might need surgery on the shoulder injury he sustained in a 3-1 loss to Lens on Saturday. He was forced to leave the pitch in the second half following an awkward fall.
His then-manager Habib Beye, who parted company with the Ligue 1 club on Monday, admitted after the match: "For Jeremy, it's his shoulder. We'll have time to see, but it's definitely quite serious."
It's suggested that surgery would sideline him for several weeks at least, possibly for the rest of the season, and it could even affect his pre-season preparations on Merseyside. While it's still early days, Slot will be hoping the situation isn't as dire as initially feared, especially having already lost Giovanni Leoni to a long-term injury and expecting Ibrahima Konate's departure as a free agent at the end of the season.