Van Dijk Calls for Calm as Liverpool Slip Again Against Sunderland
So, the big talking point right now is Liverpool’s frustrating 1-1 draw with Sunderland, and honestly, it feels like the club is stuck in a strange, unsettling phase. The match itself had plenty of storylines, but the one grabbing the most attention is Florian Wirtz being denied what he thought was his first Liverpool goal. The ball ended up being credited as a Nordi Mukiele own goal, which means Wirtz is still waiting for that milestone after 13 Premier League appearances. You can imagine how disheartening that must feel for a young player who arrived with so much expectation.
But Virgil van Dijk isn’t having any of that negativity. He’s urging Wirtz to ignore all the noise around goals, assists, and the usual “numbers game.” According to him, the kid’s contribution goes far beyond what shows up on paper. Van Dijk knows what it feels like to carry a hefty price tag—after all, he lived through that pressure himself when he signed for Liverpool back in 2018. His message was pretty clear: stay grounded, don’t let outside chatter define you, and remember why a club like Liverpool believed in you in the first place. In his eyes, Wirtz is already showing signs of being a world-class player; he just needs time and patience.
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And speaking of pressure, this draw has only intensified the spotlight on the entire squad. Liverpool looked flat, sluggish, and far from the sharp unit fans expect. Jamie Carragher didn’t hold back—he called the performance “really, really worrying,” and said it felt like the team had taken a step backwards after that win over West Ham. Sunderland, who haven’t won at Anfield in over four decades, looked sharper, hungrier, and more organised. That alone says a lot.
Even the senior players had their rough moments. Van Dijk himself made the error that led to Sunderland's goal, something he acknowledged right away. Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah being benched for the second straight game added even more fuel to ongoing debates. He was brought back at half-time, but the discussion around his future has only grown louder. Jamie Redknapp even suggested that Salah might be nearing the end of his Liverpool chapter, pointing out that a player of his stature won’t accept being reduced to a rotation role.
Up front, things are just as worrying. Alexander Isak is still struggling to settle, failing to make much of an impact once again. Liverpool’s attack looked toothless, their midfield lacked intensity, and defensively they made basic errors. It’s a cocktail of issues that makes the team look strangely disconnected.
Right now, it feels like Liverpool are trying to rediscover themselves. They’re searching for rhythm, consistency, and cohesion under Arne Slot. Van Dijk’s message to Wirtz could easily apply to the entire squad: stay calm, tune out the chaos, and keep working. But with Leeds coming up next, time is running out to turn things around.
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