{"id":18653,"date":"2025-12-28T17:30:37","date_gmt":"2025-12-28T17:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/28\/virgil-van-dijk-gets-brutally-honest-about-liverpools-problems-it-hurts-me\/"},"modified":"2025-12-28T17:30:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T17:30:37","slug":"virgil-van-dijk-gets-brutally-honest-about-liverpools-problems-it-hurts-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/28\/virgil-van-dijk-gets-brutally-honest-about-liverpools-problems-it-hurts-me\/","title":{"rendered":"Virgil van Dijk gets brutally honest about Liverpool’s problems: ‘It hurts me’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Liverpool’s captain admitted his team still has a problem conceding goals from set-pieces after Wolves had a tense second half thanks to shots from corners<\/h2>\n
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\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Virgil van Dijk says the second phase of opponents’ set-pieces could be a big problem for Liverpool<\/span>(Image: Getty)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n
Despite his team rising to fourth place in the Premier League, winning three games on the spin and being unbeaten in six games, Arne Slott was all too willing to admit there was a fundamental problem. In fact, the Liverpool manager has been frank in his assessment of the problems that have led to him scoring 12 goals in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
“Unfortunately, we’re probably the only team that hardly ever scores from set-pieces. To make matters worse, we’re always conceding goals (from our opponents),” he smiled.<\/p>\n
Despite a relative resurgence, it’s clearly a problem for Slot and Liverpool. And it was a matter of leadership on the field and a defense that allowed Wolves to score from a corner kick via Santiago Bueno at Anfield, with goals from Ryan Gravenbirch and Florian Wirtz in the first half, prompting a tense finale to a win that was supposed to be a formality.<\/p>\n
read more: Mohamed Salah is without a key Liverpool ally as Anfield’s future remains uncertain<\/span><\/span>read more: Liverpool transfer confirmed after details of Alexander Isak’s injury confirmed<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
“We defended a lot of set pieces well,” said Virgil van Dijk. “But in reality, we conceded too many goals like that, which is painful. We have to improve on that.”<\/p>\n
“It’s about repetition, training, analysis… that’s what we have to get better at. At least 75 percent of the time, maybe even more, it doesn’t even matter first contact, it’s the second stage that is decisive.”<\/p>\n
Bueno was the first to react in the second phase after Alisson’s block, but Liverpool were never back in top gear. But they persevered, aiming for more victories. Remarkably, it was a victory that resulted in \u00a3116m man Florian Wirtz’s first goal for Liverpool.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Florian Wirtz scores his first goal for Liverpool and it’s the win.<\/span>(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Van Dijk was one of the first to congratulate the 22-year-old German, clearly pleased for his team-mate who has struggled to live up to his reputation and price tag. However, the Liverpool captain admitted that Wirtz is still coming to terms with the pace and physicality of the Premier League.<\/p>\n
“He’s getting used to playing at Liverpool and what we want to do as a team. He’s getting used to the intensity,” Van Dijk explained.<\/p>\n
“I think after about 70 minutes he had a little bit of cramp. That’s part of the game. He just has to keep going. He’s a very intelligent player and he’s very comfortable with the ball.”<\/p>\n
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\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Arne Slott admits Liverpool side have problems defending set pieces<\/span>(Image: AFP via Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
“He can find spaces between the lines and be very important. He wants to be important in terms of goals and assists. The amount of work he puts in and the chances he creates I think are even more important.”<\/p>\n
“I’m really happy for him, you could see the celebrations. Everyone is very happy for him. It was an important goal for us. I was very happy for him. He played a very good game. I’m happy to see it and hopefully we’ll get a lot more goals from him.”<\/p>\n
The victory took Liverpool into fourth place in the Premier League and they look poised for a breakthrough in the new year. But Van Dijk kept his hopes a lid on, saying: “We just need to try to find stability and win.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Santiago Bueno dives in from Wolves’ corner kick, making for a tense second half for Liverpool.<\/span>(Image: AFP\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
“Let’s see how the season goes. There are a lot of games, the FA Cup is coming and we want to do well in the Champions League as well.”<\/p>\n
“Our only focus is to be in the best shape possible for the next game. This is an exciting challenge as we have so many games coming up.”<\/p>\n
“It’s going to be a difficult game, starting with Leeds, then Fulham and then Arsenal. Let’s accept that and enjoy it.”<\/p>\n
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