Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool has 90 minutes to set the record straight

Liverpool lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of its Champions League last-16 tie but Virgil van Dijk continues to remain positive.

Published : Feb 19, 2020 08:17 IST

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk in action against Atletico Madrid
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk in action against Atletico Madrid
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Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk in action against Atletico Madrid

Virgil van Dijk put Liverpool's 1-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid down to bad luck and warned the Spanish club there is still another 90 minutes of the last-16 tie to play.

Saul Niguez's early strike in Tuesday's Champions League clash gave Atletico a slender lead to take into the return fixture against holder Liverpool at Anfield on March 11.

Saul poked home from close range with four minutes played after a corner fell kindly into his path and Diego Simeone's Atletico kept its advantage intact in Madrid.

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Reigning champion Liverpool dominated possession in the Spanish capital but failed to register a single attempt on target, with Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson squandering their best chances.

Despite the defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano, however, defender Van Dijk is remaining upbeat ahead of the second leg in a little over three weeks' time.

"We conceded the goal from the corner, first chance for them, not even a chance. Bit of luck," he told BT Sport.

"The message at half-time was to keep playing. We had the ball most of the game but unfortunately could not create massive opportunities. We still have another 90 minutes to set it right.

"It is the way they play. It is a bit of the Spanish football as well and you have to adapt but we knew it and I feel we handled it pretty well."

AS IT HAPPENED

Echoing his team-mate's views, full-back Andy Robertson felt the wild celebrations in the stands at full-time were premature given Liverpool's impressive home record.

"We put in a decent performance and we know we can be better. We've got a second leg to put it right," Robertson said.

"They celebrated as if they won the tie after the game. They are coming to Anfield and we know our fans will be there.

"We gave them the best possible start and that got the fans behind them and then they start falling over and getting under the skin a bit."

 

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