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European Relief: Liverpool Back to Winning Ways in Marseille
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has dismissed reports of a players-only meeting following the club’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Burnley, calling it “misinformation” as the Reds returned to winning form with a commanding 3-0 victory over Marseille in Champions League action.
“Obviously there was going to be a meeting after the Burnley game but I didn’t say there was a meeting by me. I don’t know where this misinformation is coming from,” Van Dijk told TNT Sports following Wednesday’s European triumph at the Stade Velodrome.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot echoed his captain’s confusion about the rumored meeting, clarifying, “I am not aware that Virgil called for a team meeting. We had a post-match meeting led by me.” The Dutch coach added that he was only aware of one player-organized meeting “months ago.”
The victory in France provided a much-needed boost for Liverpool, who have struggled to maintain the dominance that saw them cruise to the Premier League title last season. Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo, plus an own goal from Marseille, put the Reds in a strong position to qualify directly for the Champions League round of 16, avoiding a potential play-off scenario.
The win comes at a crucial time for Slot’s men, who are currently battling to secure Champions League qualification in the Premier League. The draw against Burnley at Anfield drew boos from the home supporters, highlighting growing frustration among the fanbase as the team has failed to replicate last season’s championship form.
While Van Dijk did host a team meeting in October following a defeat to Manchester United—part of a concerning run that saw Liverpool lose nine matches in a 12-game stretch—the Dutch defender has been focused on addressing inconsistency issues that have plagued the team this season.
“I’m frustrated that after 60 minutes we started to become sloppy and it’s not the first time,” Van Dijk told reporters after the Burnley draw. “It’s been spoken about already but we have to address it again apparently.”
The captain’s concerns stem from Liverpool’s tendency to lose intensity during matches, a problem that could hamper their prospects both domestically and in Europe. Despite the comprehensive victory over Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille side, Van Dijk emphasized the need for maintaining focus and intensity.
“We keep saying after a win or a good result, it’s just to fully focus on recovery right now,” Van Dijk said. “Then we are going to Bournemouth, they are a very difficult team to beat. A team that plays very good football and a very good manager. We have to be more than ready.”
Liverpool currently sit fourth in the Premier League table, but the competition for Champions League places is intensifying. Manchester United are just one point behind, while Chelsea trail by only two points. With just five points separating the defending champions from 11th-placed Fulham, the battle for top-four positions promises to be fiercely contested throughout the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign.
The match against Bournemouth on Saturday now takes on added significance as Liverpool attempt to build momentum and consistency. A victory at the Vitality Stadium would not only strengthen their position in the Champions League qualification race but also provide further evidence that Slot’s team is regaining the form that made them champions last season.
For Liverpool fans, the European victory offers hope that their team can rediscover its winning formula, but Van Dijk’s comments suggest the players recognize there is still significant work to be done if they are to meet the high standards expected at Anfield.
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9 Comments
Glad to see Liverpool bounce back with a strong win in Marseille. Van Dijk’s denial of a players-only meeting is interesting – it seems there’s some confusion around the team’s internal dynamics.
Interesting to hear Virgil van Dijk dismiss the reports of a players-only meeting. Seems there’s some confusion around the team’s internal dynamics, as the manager also seemed unaware of such a meeting.
The Reds seem to be dealing with some internal confusion, if the contrasting reports around a players-only meeting are anything to go by. But a convincing win in Europe should help them focus on the task at hand.
The Reds have certainly had a mixed start to the season, but a convincing Champions League victory should provide a much-needed confidence boost. Curious to see if they can build on this performance in the league.
Absolutely, a win in Europe is always valuable, especially for a team like Liverpool that has struggled for consistency early on. They’ll be looking to carry this momentum into their domestic fixtures.
The victory in France will be a relief for Liverpool fans, who have seen their team struggle to replicate last season’s dominance in the early stages of the new campaign. Curious to see if this sparks an upturn in their fortunes.
A comprehensive 3-0 win in Marseille is just what Liverpool needed after their disappointing draw against Burnley. This should give them a timely confidence boost as they look to turn their Premier League form around.
A much-needed boost for Liverpool, who have found the going tough in the early stages of the season. The victory in Marseille should provide a timely confidence lift as they look to get their campaign back on track.
It’s good to see Liverpool return to winning ways in the Champions League, especially after their underwhelming result against Burnley. The squad will be hoping this can kickstart an improved run of form.