Liverpool’s stalwart defender Virgil van Dijk believes Leicester City deserved their win over Liverpool on Tuesday as he believed the Anfield natives were not good enough to win on the day at the King Power Stadium, according to quotes by BBC Sport.
The wily Foxes eked out a 1-0 win over the Reds in the year-end festive fixture after a second-half strike from Ademola Lookman after the former Everton ace was fed the ball by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall before slamming a shot past Alisson.
Liverpool themselves were availed of several opportunities of their own to break the deadlock before Lookman fired home in the 59th minute, with the Merseysiders applying loads of pressure in search of a late equaliser, but it was all to no avial as they fell to six-points behind Manchester City.
Liverpool have doubtless been relentless in front of the goal so far this term, with the Anfield side scoring 50 times, matched only by leaders Man City who have scored as many over the 19 games played to date, ahead of Chelsea with 42. West Ham rank fourth for goals with 34, ahead of Arsenal with 32.
The Merseysiders had also not failed to score at least once in their prior 18 fixtures before facing Leicester and a goal-less outing at the King Power Stadium meant the Reds suffering a second loss.
Van Dijk readily admits Leicester deserved to beat Liverpool, given the Reds’ dismal display which was particularly obvious in the final-third. However, the towering Dutchman is confident they can learn some lessons from the defeat.
“I think they deserved the win, but that was obviously also down to us,” Van Dijk said. “I think we were poor in the last third. A lot of crosses they defended well.
“Overall, not a good performance. They didn’t create much but looked dangerous on the break which they are good at. Credit to them. We have to look at ourselves and improve, which we will do. It’s part of football.”
To date, Liverpool have enjoyed a solid record away to Leicester since the promotion of the Foxes into the Premier League in 2014, having won four of their eight visits.
However, the truth of the matter is that losing at the King Power may leave the Merseysiders nine-points off Man City by the weekend as Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues marauders hope to terrorise Brentford on Wednesday, while Chelsea host Brighton.