Van Dijk Hits Back at Claims Liverpool Training Has Been Too Light

Van Dijk defends squad’s schedule

Liverpool sit fourth with 58 points and three games left after an £446m spend, but will end the season without a trophy following FA Cup and Champions League exits.

 

Arne Slot’s side host Chelsea next, having lost 18 games in all competitions and faced online scrutiny over their preparation...

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has defended the team’s training approach after criticism surfaced following the 3-2 Premier League loss to Manchester United on Sunday, with social media posts questioning how much time off the players had.  

Arne Slot’s side lost for the 18th time across all competitions this season, leaving the champions fourth on 58 points with three games left despite a squad investment of roughly £446 million, about $603.84 million. 

Van Dijk responded to online claims that Liverpool’s training has been too light, including posts suggesting the squad had been on holiday last week.

“I'm not sure ‌it's a holiday. It's a city trip,” Van Dijk told reporters. “If you have one day off - and you don't have many days off - people decide what they want to do with their families. We are not kids. Everyone is an adult.

“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 in the last ‌weeks in a row and they are doing pretty well. It is about finding the right balance.

“I can understand if people think we are not training, and when results are not there it could be seen as a reason why we are not getting results.”

Liverpool’s season will end without a trophy after their FA Cup exit and a heavy loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals.  

"We are not kids. Everyone is an adult."

Virgil van Dijk has defended the amount of time off given to Liverpool players by Arne Slot, insisting it is not the cause of this disappointing season.https://t.co/VfxtXvJVhp

— Paul Gorst (@ptgorst) May 4, 2026

Their next match is at home against ninth-placed Chelsea.

“I want this ‌to be solved,” Van Dijk added. “I want us to experience what I have had over my time here. I want us to be successful... We have to realise that next season, this ⁠season cannot be repeated. ⁠It is unacceptable.”