Virgil van Dijk slams 'disrespectful' Arne Slot question as he backs Liverpool boss
Virgil van Dijk has leapt to Arne Slot's defence after the Liverpool boss was asked if Xabi Alonso had spoken to him about taking his job. Branding the question 'very disrespectful', Van Dijk insists that the Reds' squad are fully behind their manager.
Liverpool made it 13 games unbeaten on Wednesday by beating Marseille 3-0 in the Champions League. But their champions' ailing Premier League title defence has seen Slot come under fire this season.
In his pre-match press conference, a journalist asked the Dutchman whether he'd been contacted by Alonso to discuss the recently-sacked Real Madrid boss replacing him. Slot laughed the 'weird' question off but Van Dijk didn't see the funny side.
"I think that was very disrespectful," the defender stated after the win in France. "Criticism is part of the game, we all know that, but I think it is also a reason why he (the journalist) is not here [at the game].
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"I think criticism is part and parcel for us, that's what we live with and it's absolutely justified if you look at what we are doing in the season unfortunately for us, especially based on last season.
"I think we always work hard on things we can improve but we also don't forget that with all the changes in the summer, with different faces and style of players, different combinations you have to find training helps with that, matches even more.
"So it's been a very difficult part of the season for us players and the manager as well but in my opinion he handled it very well. At the end of the day we are in a results business and we all get judged – players, the manager and everyone involved with the results - and that is what we are working on to improve on a consistent basis."
Strikes from Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo as well as an own goal helped the Reds bounce back from Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to relegation-threatened Burnley. Van Dijk was pleased with Liverpool's reaction but he wants more from his team-mates.
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The Netherlands international went on to say: "We were all disappointed in the fact we dropped points, but also then we have to discuss why we dropped points as we had so many chances and then they had maybe one or two and scored and the reality is you drop points and that's frustrating.
"It's how you react four days later and we had a good performance offensively and defensively and now it is important how we react to this because Bournemouth will make it very difficult for us, especially at their place. It is definitely difficult but also because of the fact we don't have that consistency that we had last year - yet.
"Hopefully, we will find it ASAP. That is something we work on but you also need no injuries and that unfortunately we have. It's a combination of everything but the only thing we can do - and will do - is try to find that consistency and there's a good chance every three to four days.
"Now it is down to us, not only the starting XI but everyone as a whole, to go to Bournemouth and be ready for a big fight as well and show the best Liverpool we can be because we can be very good."