Virgil van Dijk says he doesn’t like being booed by the Liverpool fans and has called on stronger support from the Reds crowd.
A chorus of discontent echoed around Anfield on Saturday as the defending champions were held to their fourth consecutive Premier League draw, this time against 19th-placed Burnley.
Liverpool had largely dominated the tie in the first half, with Dominik Szoboszlai hitting the bar from a penalty before £116milion man Florian Wirtz broke the deadlock.
But Scott Parker’s side – who had managed just one win and one draw away from home in the league prior to their trip to Anfield – held on for a point after Marcus Edwards’ equaliser in the 65th minute.
And while Van Dijk admits there is ‘something lacking’ in his side, who have failed to beat any of the promoted teams at Anfield this season, he wants the fans to stick with them.
‘Frustration is the word which is definitely in my head,’ said the Dutchman. ‘After 60 minutes, we started to become sloppy and it’s not the first time. We have to address that. It’s been spoken about already but we have to address it again apparently.
‘We have another 48 hours to assess it, ourselves and the staff, and we will debrief and then we have to act. I’d say there is something lacking at the moment and we want to change that.’
‘That’s the reality and we need support,’ he added. ‘I don’t like boos from my own fans.’
Liverpool’s draw against Burnley means they are now 12 games unbeaten but fans are growing restless with the underwhelming style of football.
And Reds boss Arne Slot says he ‘completely understands’ the frustration in the stands, which had emptied well before full time on Saturday.
‘In my head it wasn’t booing but in my head it was frustration as well,’ Slot said. ‘If you, as Liverpool, are not disappointed by having a draw at home to Burnley then something is completely wrong.
‘I completely understand the frustration. I have the same frustrations and the players definitely have the same frustrations as the fans.’
Liverpool are quickly back in action as they travel to Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday, and could be bolstered by the return of Mohamed Salah after his AFCON ended with Egypt finishing fourth.
Van Dijk says Roberto De Zerbi’s teams make football ‘very difficult’ but the return of Salah will be a boost.
‘Mo is a very important member of our squad on and off the pitch,’ the Liverpool defender said.
‘Unfortunately he couldn’t get to the final of the AFCON but when he is back he needs to help us.’
