A half-time inquest led by Liverpool’s senior players helped keep their Premier League title bid on track against Newcastle United.
Reds captain Virgil van Dijk was one of the loudest voices in the dressing room at St James’ Park as Arne Slot left his senior players to address the issues that led to Liverpool’s worst half of football since the defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Home truths were spoken about how the team had neglected to do the basics as they were outplayed by Newcastle – and the response was immediate.
Van Dijk offered the insight as he called for Liverpool to “learn quickly” from a first half when their standards slipped, providing a peek into how Slot might handle any crises over the horizon as his side look to make history.
Leaning into the experience of his key senior players feels like astute management from a head coach who has got little wrong in his first four months in charge.
“It was all about the players,” Van Dijk said of the quarter of an hour that proved the Reds retain title longevity, even if their lead was cut to seven points after the first round of December games.
“I had a few things to say, others did as well. You can talk about tactics but it begins with winning battles, winning duels, winning 50-50 challenges and second balls. We have to learn from that first half [against Newcastle].”
After two months when Liverpool’s Slot machine has been paying out consistently, there was value in experiencing some turbulence on Tyneside.
Premier League titles in the Pep Guardiola era are hard earned, every misstep pored over and perceived as a potentially terminal blow.
So for Liverpool to recover from their poorest performance since September should give them some comfort ahead of a punishing run of festive fixtures, even if there were a few sobering reminders of the work that lies ahead if they are to win only their second title in the Premier League era.
There had been a tendency after the Manchester City win to suggest Liverpool were on a procession towards the Premier League title with a healthy gap to last season’s champions, who are being buffeted by poor form and external issues.
But the resurgence of Arsenal, Chelsea’s emergence as a potent attacking force and City’s pedigree are all a threat to Liverpool ambitions. Van Dijk says there was never any feeling inside the Reds camp that the title was wrapped up
“You have to say that to all the people who are speaking about the gap we have created,” he said.
“We always said we understand that it’s only December, we have so many games coming up – I think eight more games.
“We need everyone to be on top form, fit and like the manager said we have five defenders for eight more games so we need to manage ourselves as well to be at our best. That’s a big challenge.
“At the moment it wasn’t about personnel or injuries, it was about first half being poor in every aspect of the game as a collective. Second half we turned it around.”
Liverpool’s fixture list is relentless. Next up is Everton at Goodison Park as the Reds attempt to avenge last season’s bitter defeat.
“That game was very disappointing in so many ways but Saturday is another opportunity,” Van Dijk said.
“It’s a game where they will definitely be up for it but so will we. I’m really looking forward to it, going there with our fans but we all know we have to improve, especially from the first half in terms of the fight in a good way.
“I knew already we are going to have ups and downs this year, this is not a real down even if it feels it at this point. We will be recovering and fresh and ready to attack the next challenge.”
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