Liverpool's Van Dijk urges side to make amends for 'unacceptable' 2025/26 season

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Reds[/a] finished a disappointing fifth in the Premier League and failed to win a trophy in a dismal campaign that ended in Arne Slot's sacking.[/p][p]Just 12 months after winning the English title, Liverpool were beaten in 19 of their 56 matches in all competitions and 12 of their 38 league games - only one fewer than they had lost in the previous three seasons combined.[/p][p][b]They failed to get past the Champions League and FA Cup quarter-finals and bowed out of the League Cup in the fourth round.[/b][/p][p]As if that wasn't bad enough, Slot's relationship with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/salah-mohamed/08FBycgB/"]Mohamed Salah[/a] disintegrated, with the Egypt forward claiming he had been made a scapegoat for Liverpool's troubles.[/p][p]Now Dutch defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-dijk-virgil/U59RNqOr/"]Van Dijk[/a] wants his team-mates to erase the bitter taste of last season with a far more successful run this term.[/p][p][b]"Last year was unacceptable. This year we have an opportunity to turn that around,"[/b] Van Dijk said.[/p][embed guid="f5d0bd34-ff53-41e6-b916-847a47c3657f" url="https://x.com/LFC/status/2090348108928483814" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"We all know how tough that will be but if you're not up for the challenge, then you're not at the right place.[/b][/p][p]"What I feel at the moment is everyone is up for the challenge. Let's see how we go about it.[/p][p][b]"I'm really looking forward to this season and I don't think we have a point to prove to anyone.[/b][/p][p][b]"We have to show how much we care, how much we want to fight for this badge and also realise how privileged we are to be playing for Liverpool."[/b][/p][p]Former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bournemouth/OtpNdwrc/"]Bournemouth[/a] boss Andoni Iraola has been hired to restore the high intensity football which disappeared under Slot.[/p][p]Salah, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/konate-ibrahima/QJlbDbQe/"]Ibrahima Konate[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/robertson-andrew/6e7Be9VI/"]Andrew Robertson[/a] have all departed Anfield since the end of last season, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jones-curtis/OnQz9w8h/"]Curtis Jones[/a] set to join [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter/Iw7eKK25/"]Inter Milan[/a].[/p][p]Spain winger [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/munoz-victor/EBMXXrd3/"]Victor Munoz[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rennes/d2nnj1IE/"]Rennes[/a] defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jacquet-jeremy/h0WK6DL4/"]Jeremy Jacquet[/a] have arrived on permanent deals, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] centre-back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/araujo-ronald/M3sbJix9/"]Ronald Araujo[/a] was brought in on loan.[/p][embed guid="ffa89a5b-435b-4666-a518-8a9652673033" url="https://x.com/LFC/status/2090098968097145222" social-type="twitter" /][p]After Iraola said during pre-season that the players were only fit enough to run for 30 minutes of a match, Van Dijk admitted Liverpool must find a way to avoid the rash of injuries that plagued them last season.[/p][p]Van Dijk hopes Iraola can get Liverpool playing with more verve and purpose than they managed in Slot's ill-fated second campaign.[/p][p][b]"If you look at Bournemouth last year, I think they were pretty exciting. I would say if we keep working, keep believing, keep showing our quality then we can be very excited,"[/b] Van Dijk said.[/p][p][b]"We need everyone to be fit. We need a squad which is able to compete on all four fronts and that's the only way to try to be successful.[/b][/p][p][b]"Let's see what the last couple of weeks of the transfer window will bring and then let's go for it."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/liverpool-lId4TMwf/newcastle-p6ahwuwJ/?mid=4xKntFxe"]Follow Newcastle vs Liverpool with Flashscore.[/a][/p][infobox id="02b45e73-9abc-454d-882a-650a1a621f7d" /]