Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has questioned his side’s desire to win the Premier League following a dangerous defeat against Merseyside rivals Everton.
With 4 games remaining, Liverpool are actually hoping for a slip-up from leaders Arsenal, who’re three points clear, and champions Manchester City.
The defeat at Goodison Park was their second in three games as their season is threatened.
“Do they really want to win the league?” Van Dijk asked.
Goals in each half from defender Jared Branthwaite and striker Dominic Calvert-Lyon put the Toffees on the right track for his or her first home win in the league since October 2010 against Liverpool.
It was one other blow after a 1-0 home defeat by Crystal Palace 10 days earlier as they missed out on moving level on points with the Gunners.
Van Dijk told Sky Sports: “If you play like that overall and don’t win any challenges and give the referee a free-kick then we have no chance of winning the title.
“Very upset in some ways. Everyone has to look in the mirror and have a look at their performance and wonder in the event that they gave it their all.
“It’s a tough one and obviously we have to do better against a team close to relegation. [positions].
“If you play like today, we have now no likelihood to think about ourselves in the title race.”
Van Dijk mentioned Liverpool’s next game on Saturday is an early kick-off at West Ham.
Former Everton and England striker Wayne Rooney, a studio guest for Sky’s coverage of the match, said: “The worrying thing there’s – and I believe it’s happened rather a lot throughout the season – once more we’re at 12:30 He’s just lost a derby.
“He must want it, and the Liverpool team have to be on the pitch tomorrow morning for the next game to start out, because if you lose, especially in a derby, you wish the next game to return quickly.
“We’ve heard it many times this season with Liverpool about 12:30 kick-off. Get on with it. That’s part of your job. He’s got to be ready to play.”
Credit : www.bbc.com
