Virgil van Dijk has openly admitted that Liverpool FC let themselves, their fans, and manager Arne Slot down following a crushing 4–0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final on April 4, 2026. His statement was shared by Fabrizio Romano on his official X handle.
The Liverpool captain pointed to a poor second-half collapse as the turning point, with the team unable to recover after key moments, including a decisive penalty incident. City capitalized ruthlessly, with Erling Haaland delivering a standout performance by scoring a hat-trick in a dominant display.
Romano posted:
Virgil van Dijk: We let our fans down. We let ourselves down and the manager, but we let our fans down. Up until the penalty, maybe not… but the way we played especially in the second half yesterday must hurt for everyone. It definitely hurts me.
Softfootball earlier reported that Van Dijk acknowledged the emotional toll of what has been a difficult 2025–26 season, describing it as mentally challenging while stressing the squad’s responsibility to supporters. With Liverpool’s hopes fading in both domestic and European competitions, he emphasized the need for the team to deliver something meaningful in the final stretch of matches.
The defeat adds to a series of disappointing results under Slot, increasing scrutiny on both performances and leadership within the squad.
Fan reactions have been mixed, with rival supporters criticizing Van Dijk’s form, while many Liverpool fans continue to back their captain, highlighting his leadership and calling for resilience in the closing stages of the season.
