Unacceptable season cannot be repeated - Van Dijk

Breaking news from the world of sport: Unacceptable season cannot be repeated - Van Dijk Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Liverpool need four points at most to secure Champions League qualification By Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter Published 6 minutes ago Captain Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool 's season has been "unacceptable" after Arne Slot's side fell to an 18th defeat in all competitions when they were beaten by Manchester United. The Dutch defender has also stressed the need for "a lot of work to be done behind the scenes" to avoid a repeat of their disappointing Premier League title defence. "I'm not here to make excuses," Van Dijk said.

"It's been a very disappointing season, an unacceptable season, and it's tough. We shouldn't feel sorry for ourselves whatsoever. "We have to work and turn this around and make sure that next season these things don't happen.

Match Details

" Liverpool may still require four points from their remaining three games to confirm Champions League qualification. The 3-2 defeat against Michael Carrick's side at Old Trafford came after a three-game winning run in the Premier League, but it was the 11th loss of Liverpool 's title defence. The last reigning champions to lose more league games were Leicester (18) in 2016-17.

"I think it's unacceptable that we have lost too many times as defending champions of the Premier League and we shouldn't accept it," said Van Dijk. "There will be a lot of work that has to be done going into next season. When I am back from the World Cup I will go into it, but there is a lot of work to be done behind the scenes.

" The 34-year-old added: "I care so much about this club. I know that it has been a tough season, but I will always be there in good and lesser good days. "But we have three games left and the realisation has to come from ourselves, as a group and as players, to make sure that we are in the Champions League because of the impact of it for the financial side for the club.

Reactions and Expectations

But also because we want to be playing against the best teams in Europe. " Slot's VAR fury but loss highlights Liverpool issues Published 16 hours ago Quiz: Name every Man Utd goalscorer against Liverpool since 2010 Published 30 minutes ago Ferguson taken to hospital as precaution before Man Utd v Liverpool Published 20 hours ago Ups, downs and the race for Europe Published 16 hours ago 'We are not kids. Everyone is an adult' Van Dijk was also asked about the perception aired on social media that Liverpool 's training schedule has been light.

He defended the suggestion that his side have had too many days off. The players had one day off in the week leading up to the Manchester United game and are scheduled to have one day off this week before they play Chelsea on Saturday. When it was put to Van Dijk that some of his team-mates went on holiday last week, the Liverpool defender said: "I'm not sure it's a holiday.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.