“It was a shock” – Liverpool star in “very frustrating” admission, had to “look for answers”

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has admitted “it was a shock” how their season turned out and proved to be so inconsistent.

The centre-back has been speaking to NOS in the Netherlands about this season, which was a frustrating one for him and Liverpool.

On a personal level he failed to hit his previous heights, struggling to perform at the high levels that had many labelling him as the best central defender in Europe.

Liverpool also struggled to hit their own previous heights, with a lack of consistency running throughout the squad and ultimately leading to them missing out on qualification for the Champions League.

It means they will be spending next season in the Europa League and battling to get back to the top of the table, where they’ve regularly competed with Manchester City in the last few years.

Their form at the end of the season offered hope of a brighter campaign next year, with Liverpool going on a run of seven straight wins from April to May before draws against Aston Villa and Southampton to end the campaign.

Van Dijk feels the same way, although he was frustrated by what came before it, despite working out his own problems.

“I have had a turbulent season and I am happy that the last three months went well. I am comfortable in my skin again and am constant,” he said.

“That’s also what I was used to in the last five years. It was a shock that it was not constant enough as a team this year.

“You can only come out of it by dealing with it, inside and outside the pitch. I think I was able to do that well, with help from my wife and people at the club. I’m happy with that.

“To give an example, against United we won 7-0, but then the next game at Bournemouth you lose 1-0. That’s just very frustrating. Then you look for answers and your form.

“It went too much with ups and downs, but that’s also part of an athlete’s life. You cannot perform at your absolute best every game.”

It now remains to be seen how Van Dijk performs during the international break, with him seemingly keen to end the season on a positive note.

He had been in the Netherlands squad with Liverpool teammate Cody Gakpo but the latter has pulled out temporarily for ‘pleasant family circumstances’ and will return soon.