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Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk emphasized that the Reds' inability to "capitalize on strong showings" must end if they hope to qualify for Champions League football next term.
The reigning English titleholders extended their disappointing championship defense on Saturday, losing 2–1 to Brighton & Hove Albion to finish March winless in Premier League action. Arne Slot's squad now maintains only a single-point advantage over fifth-placed Chelsea, while Brentford and Everton trail by merely three points.
The defeat proved particularly galling for Liverpool given it followed their commanding 4–0 victory over Galatasaray in midweek competition.
"I've been saying the same thing for months now: We cannot capitalize on strong performances," Van Dijk commented following the loss. "This must change if we want to accomplish our goal of securing Champions League qualification."
"The responsibility lies with us, and we must step up as players and as a unit. If we address this issue, we can become a formidable threat, but currently, we're falling short."
Liverpool's Inconsistent Results Support Van Dijk's Concerns
Multiple factors contribute to Liverpool's fifth-place position in the Premier League standings this campaign. Sluggish starts from high-profile summer acquisitions, extensive injury problems, and Mohamed Salah's disappointing form have all hindered the team's progress.
However, as Van Dijk highlighted, the squad's remarkable inconsistency represents perhaps the most maddening aspect of their 2025–26 season. On certain occasions, the Reds display last year's excellence and demolish opponents with the confidence befitting 20-time English champions, yet on others, they appear disoriented, lacking creativity, and defensively fragile.
Over the past three months, Liverpool have secured convincing wins only to follow them with baffling losses. Consider these consecutive fixture results below:
Whenever the Reds advance one step forward, they retreat two steps backward. The club has managed only one point from nine available in March, creating a tense final two-month period to ensure they maintain their position ahead of Chelsea for the fifth and likely final Champions League berth for English teams next season.
Van Dijk Dismisses Injury Excuses for Liverpool's Poor Form
Injury problems are devastating Liverpool during the season's most critical period. Beyond Alexander Isak, Wataru Endō, Conor Bradley, and Giovanni Leoni already being out with extended ailments, additional players have joined them in the treatment room.
Mohamed Salah is dealing with a muscle problem, Alisson remains unavailable indefinitely, Hugo Ekitiké was substituted after merely eight minutes at the Amex Stadium, and Federico Chiesa has now pulled out of Italy's international squad.
Ekitiké's weekend departure proved especially damaging for the Reds. "When Hugo leaves the field, and you examine the team, there weren't many forward runs," Van Dijk noted.
"There isn't much happening in that area. While that wasn't why we lost, it altered our approach somewhat. When he made substitutions, the formation shifted and positions changed, requiring different things from players."
Yet for Van Dijk, Liverpool's troubles ultimately stem from the same fundamental problem: "It's a mix of various factors, but the reality remains that we cannot build upon the strong performance we delivered in midweek."