Van Dijk Blames Liverpool 'Giving Up' After 4-0 FA Cup Rout, Warns of Tough PSG Clash

Virgil van Dijk openly criticised Liverpool’s performance after a crushing 4‑0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter‑final, saying the side effectively "gave up" and offering a direct apology to the club’s supporters.

The Dutch defender described the loss as the most severe under manager Arne Slot, noting that the timing of the defeat makes it especially hard to rebound for the Champions League first‑leg against Paris Saint‑Germain on Wednesday.

Van Dijk pointed out that Liverpool allowed four goals in an 18‑minute spell around the break, a collapse that has contributed to the club’s tally of 15 defeats across all competitions this season (excluding the Community Shield).

"It’s on us," he said, expressing remorse for the second‑half display and acknowledging the mental strain of a difficult campaign.

He also took personal responsibility for the penalty that gave City the lead, marking his fourth spot‑kick conceded this season after 319 appearances for Liverpool.

Regarding the manager, Van Dijk stated, "Slot is responsible as the manager, but we are the ones on the pitch." He added that the team let both the fans and themselves down, especially after the penalty incident.

Looking ahead, the captain warned that the upcoming match in Paris will be "very difficult", but stressed that Liverpool must fight in the remaining three games to salvage the season.

Van Dijk also reflected on a perceived loss of the "togetherness" that defined his years at the club, attributing it to a major squad overhaul and a transitional period that hampers consistency.