Virgil van Dijk: No issues with Liverpool’s unity
Captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledges that Liverpool is struggling with consistency, though he emphasizes that the team remains united following the club’s setback in their pursuit of Champions League qualification after a last-minute 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday.
The defending Premier League champions rallied from a two-goal deficit at the Vitality Stadium, only for Cherries winger Amine Adli to net the decisive goal with nearly the final kick of the match.
Despite arriving in Dorset on a 13-match unbeaten streak following a 3-0 European victory in Marseille, Liverpool had drawn their last four league matches and have now secured only four points from a possible 15 in 2026.
Arne Slot’s squad, currently trailing leaders Arsenal, faces a challenge to secure a top-four finish after yet another disappointment in their lackluster title defense.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt about our unity,” Van Dijk stated, as reported by Liverpool’s website.
“However, the consistency we are striving for is something we still need to achieve. That is the reality.
“There was a lot of commendation for our performances, a lot of individual accolades, and we understand how it works. Then, three days later [after Marseille], we lose a match like we did, and the other side of the world reacts. That is something we must cope with.
“But we aim to perform well, we want to win matches, and unfortunately, that did not happen.”
Van Dijk defended his performance in the challenging wet and windy conditions on the south coast.
The center-back miscalculated a ball played behind him leading to Evanilson’s 26th-minute opener, allowed Álex Jiménez to be onside for Bournemouth’s second goal, and failed to manage a long throw into the box before Adli’s injury-time winner.
Liverpool were briefly reduced to 10 men at the time of Jimenez’s 33rd-minute goal as substitute Wataru Endo was poised to enter for the injured Joe Gomez.
Van Dijk, who reduced his team’s deficit just before half-time and saw Dominik Szoboszlai score an equalizer in the 80th minute, commented on Adli’s goal: “What I experienced on the pitch was that I was clearly obstructed, but of course, the referee and VAR did not call it, and that is something we have to accept.
“In my view, I was impeded.
“The first goal was a challenging ball to assess given the conditions—the wind was quite tricky. I believe it was particularly evident when we attempted long balls on their side; it was very hard to judge.
“And then, of course, when we were down to 10 men, one could argue that we should perhaps have cleared the ball. However, conceding those two goals in quick succession is certainly not ideal.”
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After an 11-match winless streak, Bournemouth has secured seven points from a possible nine despite the sale of top scorer Antoine Semenyo and injury challenges, alleviating concerns about being pulled into a relegation battle.
Morocco winger Adli, who has started the Cherries’ last two league matches in place of Semenyo, remarked on his club’s website: “I’m a team player. Seeing my teammates happy is the most important thing for me.
“When you observe the dressing room, all the staff so joyful.
“The fans celebrating, going wild in the stadium—that’s incredible. We share these moments together.
“It hasn’t been an easy situation [with the injuries and the winless streak], but everyone is supporting one another. This victory is significant for us.”
