Virgil van Dijk led a players-only meeting on Monday and Liverpool\u2019s 5-1 thumping of Eintracht Frankfurt two days later suggests the message hit home, while a pundit\u2019s bizarre claim has already been exposed.<\/p>\n
Liverpool<\/a> ended their four-match losing streak in emphatic style on Wednesday when dismantling Frankfurt in the Champions League. In truth, Liverpool created just as many chances against Frankfurt as they did against Manchester United a few days prior. The difference in Germany was their clinical nature when those chances came, along with the defence standing tall.<\/p>\n During the losing run, speculation \u2013 all of which had no basis in fact \u2013 begun to swirl over Arne Slot\u2019s future at Liverpool.<\/p>\n There were even wild suggestions a rumoured \u2019emergency meeting\u2019 on Monday could cover whether Slot should be sacked as manager of Liverpool.<\/p>\n But while a meeting did take place, it was a players-only affair and of course, Slot\u2019s position as Reds boss was NOT among the topics discussed.<\/p>\n Instead, Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk<\/a>, revealed he led the meeting and delivered a series of home truths to his fellow players.<\/p>\n \u201cOn Monday, everyone was sad because we lost to United at home. We haven\u2019t lost many games at home during my time at Liverpool,\u201d Van Dijk said after the win in Germany.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was tough under the circumstances so on Monday we came together, but it wasn\u2019t a crisis meeting. We all know how things can change. We\u2019re only in October.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, we also had a proper debrief with the manager but we also had a separate one as players. I wanted to say some things. It\u2019s not something I do after every game. Let\u2019s keep it that way.\u201d<\/p>\n Van Dijk added:\u00a0\u201cNobody wants to lose four games in a row but it was the situation we faced. We had to stay calm and block out all the noise from the outside because that\u2019s something you can\u2019t control.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only way to get out of a situation like that is to stay together, keep your mind on the task ahead, try to improve, keep the confidence, embrace the moment. They are all things that are easier to say than actually do. But if you want to get out of it, you have to do it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe live in a world now where there is always noise, always something to be said, always someone who knows better. We have to stay focused on ourselves.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore my meeting, yes (the mood was low) but after my meeting, everyone was happy!\u201d<\/p>\n The improved spirits were raised even higher when Liverpool got back to winning ways against Frankfurt.<\/p>\n Van Basten\u2019s ridiculous take on Van Dijk exposed<\/p>\n During the recent international break, Dutch legend, Marco van Basten, bizarrely claimed Van Dijk is NOT a leader<\/a>.<\/p>\n Speaking after the Netherlands\u2019 two World Cup qualifying wins over Malta and Finland \u2013 in which two clean sheets were kept and Van Dijk scored against the latter \u2013\u00a0Van Basten curiously said:\u00a0\u201cI think Van Dijk should be the leader.<\/p>\n \u201cHe should lead by example and be the driving force. I miss that in him. I find his mentality easy to handle.\u201d<\/p>\n Van Basten added: \u201cHe\u2019s a fantastic player, perhaps the best defender we have in the world. He can head the ball, he\u2019s quick, he\u2019s tall, and he has a good overview.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s just not the leader who drives the team forward. That would be very beneficial for the team. I hope Arne Slot can teach him that.\u201d<\/p>\n Anyone with eyes and ears knows Van Basten\u2019s claim is nonsense, but Van Dijk \u2013 who captains both Liverpool and the Netherlands \u2013 proved his leadership capabilities once again by calling and leading the players-only meeting on Monday.<\/p>\n In any case, Van Basten and Van Dijk have previous beef, with the former striker making a series of baffling claims about the defender back in 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cHe makes noise, but he doesn\u2019t say anything. He is not clear,\u201d said Van Basten after the Netherlands had just lost 4-0 to France in a Euro 2024 qualifier.<\/p>\n \u201cA good captain thinks aloud, makes it clear what is going on. He stays in between. He creates chaos. That leads to misunderstandings. That is what you, as a captain, must prevent.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the dressing room he is good, football tactically and technically not. You need another gentleman on the field. This has to do with leadership. He makes noise, but he says nothing. That\u2019s true. This is in you. This is wanting to win at all costs.\u201d<\/p>\n As Van Dijk stated, sometimes you just have to shut out the noise and focus on those that actually matter.<\/p>\n Latest Liverpool news \u2013 Semenyo \/ Wirtz \/ Salah \/ Isak<\/p>\n In other news,\u00a0Liverpool have learned exactly what it would take to sign Antoine Semenyo in January amid a colossal five-word transfer update<\/a>.<\/p>\n