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Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has said that his team are in a crisis of confidence after their 3-2 loss at Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday (October 9).
The Reds continued their indifferent start to the season with a defeat at the Emirates. After Gabriel Martinelli's first-minute opener, Darwin Nunez levelled proceedings for the visitors in the 34th minute.
Just before the break, Bukayo Saka restored Arsenal's lead. In the second half, the Merseyside outfit turned up the heat and bagged their equaliser when Roberto Firmino scored the 53rd minute. However, Saka's 76th-minute winner from the spot took the Gunners back to the top of the standings as the Reds failed to muster a response.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Van Dijk bemoaned his team's lacklustre performance. He said:
"Confidence is definitely a thing that plays a part, but you know, we are all human beings, and sometimes you need a bit of confidence in certain moments, and it could also, if your confidence is not as high, not help you in situations."
He continued:
"Like what I said before, every human being in any job needs a little bit of confidence in order to perform at the highest level. If you are not winning at the highest level, like we are used to, then confidence is creeping away, but we know it can turn around just like that; we have to work hard."
Van Dijk added:
"If you concede goals, it's not a good thing; we do everything in our power to avoid it, but we have already conceded too many, in my opinion, and there is always multiple reasons for it."
Liverpool are tenth in the standings with ten points from eight games. They will next face Rangers at the Ibrox in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday (October 12).
Liverpool and Arsenal in race to sign forward dubbed 'next Erling Haaland'
According to Calciomercato (via TEAMtalk), Liverpool and Arsenal are interested in snapping up Nordsjaelland forward Andreas Schjelderup, who has been labelled as the next Erling Haaland. Sevilla are also in the race to sign the £17.5 million-rated Norwegian attacker.
Schjelderup, 18, has two years left on his contract. He has registered 14 goals and five assists in 51 appearances for the Danish Superliga outfit. That includes five strikes and an assist in ten games this campaign.
Juventus, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund are also interested in the player. Interestingly, Sevilla had a bid of £3.5 million for Schjelderup turned down by Nordjaelland.
