Virgil van Dijk sets record straight on Liverpool's 'team meeting' after latest setback
Virgil van Dijk has rubbished suggestions he called a team meeting after Liverpool drew with Burnley at the weekend - instead stating that the squad were always going to get together.
The Reds failed to beat the Clarets at the weekend as the side sat 19th in the Premier League managed to leave Anfield with a point. Marcus Edwards scored in the second-half to cancel out Liverpool's opener as they were forced to deal with a fourth straight stalemate.
Reports had claimed that the centre-half demanded a team meeting in an effort to get them back to winning ways, but the Dutchman hit back at that narrative. Van Dijk said a meeting was always on the cards with no riot act being read.
Liverpool's domestic form has been patchy - they've only won three of their last nine games - but in Europe they've been more efficient. Marseille were seen off with relative ease as Dominik Szoboszlai scored the opener in a 3-0 success. Van Dijk though claimed that the team hadn't responded to any battlecry.
He told TNT Sports: "I don't know the ones who put it in the media. I was asked if there was going to be a meeting after the last game and there was obviously going to be a meeting, but I didn't say it was from me. I don't know where this misinformation came from."
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The win lifted Liverpool into the top eight of the Champions League, which would ensure straight passage into the last 16. The Reds have won five of their seven games across the course of their European campaign as they bid to exceed last season's premature exit.
Van Dijk admitted he had always wanted to play at Marseille's Stade Velodrome and was able to taste victory at the first attempt. He hailed his side's performance as they dealt with the absence of Ibrahima Konate and the challenges of facing a team led by Roberto De Zerbi.
The defender went on to add: "We always keep saying it after a win or a good result. Fully focus on recovery now and then we go to Bournemouth and they're hard to beat. We have to be more than ready. We fly back tomorrow. On to the next."
Liverpool head to the Vitality Stadium at the weekend, seeking to consolidate their spot in the top four with the likes of Manchester United, Brentford and Newcastle in close proximity.
Arne Slot hit back at suggestions his team are struggling for inconsistency given their unbeaten run, but admitted they have struggle to breakdown teams who sit deep against them.