Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk shares Jurgen Klopp's concerns about how injuries have played their part in Liverpool's slow start.
The Reds lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, making it five away league games without a victory this season. The result ensured they finished the weekend down in eighth place, some five points adrift of the Champions League spots.
Injuries have been a big issue, especially in attack where Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz face weeks on the sidelines. There have also been setbacks in other areas of the pitch, though, and Van Dijk and manager Klopp appear to be on the same page.
"When you want it really clicking you need [to be] consistent in the line-up and we haven't that," Klopp said in his press conference ahead of Liverpool's Champions League trip to Ajax. Home and away victories over Rangers mean a point at the Johan Cruijff ArenA will be enough to see the 2019 European champions through to the last 16.
"When you have (lots of injuries), players who should be rested have to play and players come back from injuries too early," he added. "That's tricky. That situation isn't sorted overnight."
Liverpool have been able to welcome some injured players back to the squad in recent weeks, with Curtis Jones making his first league start of the season and Saturday and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returning from the bench. However, the continuity was lost when Thiago suffered an ear infection, and Van Dijk has joined Klopp in explaining the impact of the various issues.
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"I don't think there's time to be shocked within ourselves," Van Dijk said. "Everyone can look in the mirror and know if they do well or not.
"Only way to get this going again is to play games. We need everyone, fit players, defence and results. We need momentum."
Van Dijk himself was one of the victims of a defensive injury crisis during the 2020-21 season. On that occasion, the Reds were able to recover to finish in the top four, but Klopp is aware things will not be easy for his team either domestically or on the continent.
"Ibou [Konate] trained properly the first time yesterday," the manager said. "He wasn't long out but he has a muscle thing. I'm not sure it makes sense for him to play 95 minutes.
"Naby and Ox the same. They aren't in the Champions League squad because everybody told me they wouldn't be ready (in time)."
Liverpool needed a late Joel Matip goal in the reverse fixture to claim all three points against an Ajax side who Klopp suggests are "in transition" after losing manager Erik ten Hag and some star players over the summer. Still, after a 4-1 defeat at Napoli in the first group game, top spot could still be beyond the English side even if they win in Amsterdam.
