Liverpool manager Arne Slott has backed Virgil van Dijk’s decision to call a players-only meeting following Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield.
Manager Arne Slott has backed Virgil van Dijk’s decision to call a team meeting to address Liverpool’s poor form following their defeat to Manchester United. Reds captain Van Dijk called up his players after last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Manchester United, and it had the desired effect.
The Reds defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in the Champions League in midweek, managing to avoid a fifth straight defeat and their worst performance in 72 years. However, three consecutive Premier League defeats have left Liverpool four points behind new title contenders Arsenal at the top of the table.
Liverpool manager Slott was pleased with his fellow Dutchman’s decision to give his struggling side a fresh perspective.
“What Virgil did and what I did is what you should do and what every player should do,” Slott said ahead of Saturday’s Premier League game against Brentford, as reported by the Liverpool Echo. “No one should accept losing against United, especially when we’ve already lost three games. That wasn’t satisfying for me.”
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“It’s not good if the voice they hear is always mine. So they’re also hearing my assistant’s voice. And I don’t think Virgil brought them in and said (gestures working on the tactical board): ‘From now on you have to play like this’.”
“We have five players who are captains of the national team. Virgil is not the only one who said something. We all need to be able to have a proper conversation as we gain experience.”
“I encourage them to be responsible and talk to each other, whether they’re in the sauna or the pool or when they’re standing in groups of five or six. But it’s good when you have a very respected leader like Virgil in the group.”
Mr. Slott continued. “I’ve probably been through this a quarter of a million times. If they’re sitting in the coffee bar upstairs right now, do you think they’re talking? I think they’re talking. They’re talking all the time. Sometimes with everyone, sometimes just with the leadership group.”
“They talk and they should. They feel what’s happening on the pitch. But when it comes to tactics, that’s my area.”
The only Liverpool captain to lift six different trophies, Henderson’s achievements can still be seen at the club’s AXA training center, with motivational quotes from the England star displayed on the wall behind where Slott was addressing the media ahead of tonight’s match.
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Van Dijk, who will take charge of Liverpool for the 150th time on Saturday, took over from Henderson two years ago and led the Reds to League Cup glory in 2024 and the Premier League title last season. “For me he was the most influential captain since I became manager. I mean this as a compliment, but most of my players in the Dutch league were 22 or 23 years old, because if they perform well, after a good performance they will go somewhere else,” Slott said.
“Virgil has done exactly what I expected from him with his performance. He has been a leader during my time here. Every day you can tell he is a leader. Whenever you start a session you hear his voice. I couldn’t ask for more from him in that role. He was a very good successor.”
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