The Liverpool center-back admitted a lack of consistency has impacted the Reds' campaign, with a vast improvement needed when Galatasaray travels to Anfield next week
12:00, 11 Mar 2026
Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk said Liverpool will need to show more fight in the second leg next week
Virgil van Dijk admitted Liverpool will need to be vastly improved if it is to progress to the Champions League last-16 when it faces Galatasaray next week at Anfield.
The Reds lost 1-0 at RAMS Park on Wednesday, with Mario Lemina netting the only goal of the game via a seventh-minute header. The Reds created a host of scoring opportunities in Istanbul but could not find a way back into the game, spurning six shots on target and an expected goals of 1.40 across the first leg.
At the other end, this was the sort of jittery defensive display that routinely blighted the Reds’ campaign during the autumn months, with Ibrahima Konate looking particularly suspect at the back. Van Dijk also had a few shaky moments, and the Liverpool center-back admitted he and the team need to be better in the second leg next week.
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“We have to fight, we have to deserve it. We have to earn the next round,” he said after the game.
“Next week obviously is the decider. We’re at home but we have to show that we want and deserve to go through, first and foremost, in the way we play, defend and attack.
“You have to earn the right. You have to fight for it, the challenges, second ball fight.
“In games we have been showing that and in some games we have been lacking, and that's why we have been inconsistent, unfortunately.”
Galatasaray's Gabonese midfielder #99 Mario Lemina (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Galatasaray SK and Liverpool FC at the Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex in Istanbul on March 10, 2026. (Photo by YASIN AKGUL / AFP via Getty Images)
Lemina scored the only goal of the game at RAMS Park(Image: Getty Images)
Finding that consistency has been hard for Liverpool all campaign, but that is particularly apparent across the last five matches.
The performance levels against Nottingham Forest, West Ham and the double header at Wolves last week have highlighted how volatile the Reds’ standards can be game to game.
While most are confident Liverpool can turn the Champions League tie around at Anfield next week, Van Dijk reiterated that the Reds will need to offer more than they did in Turkey on Tuesday.
Liverpool center back Virgil van Dijk smiles during training
Van Dijk has called for an improved performance at Anfield (Image: Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
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“That [consistency] is something we want to improve and aim for. If we want to go through to the next round, we definitely have to show that on Wednesday.
“Those are the main things and together in our house, home and our fans, we hopefully can make it an amazing evening.
“Did I see enough to think we can get through? I've seen a lot in terms of the chances we created but it doesn't mean that that's going to be enough.”