Liverpool suffered their 11th defeat of the Premier League season as they lost 3-2 at Manchester United, and some fans have criticised the amount of days off Arne Slot has given his players
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 03: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on May 03, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk didn't mince his words(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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A furious Virgil van Dijk has labelled Liverpool's season 'unacceptable' and told his team-mates to put things right next term. Reds captain Van Dijk also defended manager Arne Slot's decision to give their players time off before Sunday's messy 3-2 defeat away to Manchester United.
The loss means that Liverpool are likely to finish fourth in the Premier League, having also been knocked out of the FA Cup and Champions League last month to compound a miserable season. Since their schedule was reduced to one game per week, Slot has allowed his squad to have more downtime - with some players taking advantage of the days off by travelling Europe.
A portion of Liverpool's fan base have taken umbrage with their trips abroad, but Van Dijk insists that nothing is getting in the way of their professionalism. "I'm not sure it's a holiday," the 34-year-old. "It's a city trip. It was only one day [away].
"But I think if you have one day off, and you don't have many days off, they decide what they want to do with their families. We are not kids. Everyone is an adult. This week we have an early kick-off on Saturday [against Chelsea]. So preparation is on that. Yesterday, we were in a hotel.
"Today we played. So two days away with the family again. It's not that we have a holiday whatsoever. I wish we had a couple more days off at times because I think it works both ways.
"You see Pep Guardiola giving Manchester City three days off the last weeks in a row and they are doing pretty well. It is finding the right balance. I can understand if people think we are not training and, when results are not there, it could be a reason for why we are not getting results.
"Like anyone else, personally I want this to be solved. I want us to experience what I have had over my time here. I want us to be successful. I want to consistent with the team, winning games, fighting. We want to get the job done.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on May 03, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Arne Slot is under fire from Liverpool's supporters(Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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"At the minute, we are just disappointed. Consistency is the most difficult thing in any job you do. But it is also the best way to be successful and get results. We have three more games now then the World Cup. We have to realise next season that this season cannot be repeated. It is unacceptable."
Liverpool have lost 11 games in a single Premier League campaign for the first time since the 2014-15 season, the year before Jurgen Klopp arrived. Van Dijk knows that there's no hiding place, although he argues that injuries have been a factor in their demise.
"I'm not here to make excuses," the Dutchman continued. "It's been a very disappointing season, an unacceptable season. We shouldn't feel sorry for ourselves whatsoever. We have to turn it around and make sure these things don't happen. It's not Liverpool.
"Every injury we have is a separate case. I don't think anyone can predict Alex Isak having a leg break. I don't think anyone can predict Wata (Wataru Endo) having a proper foot injury.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool looks dejected following the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on May 03, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk has urged his team-mates to learn from this season(Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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"I don't think you can predict Gio (Giovanni Leoni) having an ACL or Giorgi (Mamardashvili) having stitches just below his patella tendon. There are a couple of others as well. It's tricky, you know, having two goalkeepers out as well at once.
"But it's the situation. I can stand here and say that is the reason we are where we are but I wouldn’t do that. It's down to us, all of us, to turn it around. After the season, we make sure that this doesn't happen."