Unacceptable season cannot be repeated - Van Dijk

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says his side's season has been "unacceptable" following an 18th defeat in all competitions. By Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter 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 have to work and turn this around and make sure that next season these things don't happen. It's not Liverpool ." 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. But we keep going." 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. 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. But I think if you have one day off, and you don't have many days off, they decide what they want to do with their families.

"I wish we had a couple more days off at times because I think it works both ways. You see Pep Guardiola giving [Manchester] City three days off the last weeks in a row and they are doing pretty well. "Like anyone else, personally I want this to be solved," Van Dijk said. I want us to be successful. I want to be consistent with the team, winning games, fighting.

We want to get the job done. We have three more games, then the World Cup. We have to realise that next season, this season cannot be repeated. It is unacceptable." Quiz: Name every Man Utd goalscorer against Liverpool since 2010 Ferguson taken to hospital as precaution before Man Utd v Liverpool Ups, downs and the race for Europe Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says his side's season has been "unacceptable" following an 18th defeat in all competitions. Unacceptable season cannot be repeated - Van Dijk