Virgil van Dijk sends 'panic' message as 'angry'…

Virgil van Dijk sends 'panic' message as 'angry' Liverpool accept Real Madrid reality

Virgil van Dijk has urged "angry" Liverpool not to panic after admitting they can have only themselves to blame for their Champions League horror show against Real Madrid.

The Reds surrendered a 2-0 lead to slump to the heaviest home European defeat in the club's history by losing 5-2 in their round of 16 first leg tie against the Spanish outfit at Anfield on Tuesday evening.

Van Dijk accepts Jurgen Klopp's side now face "an almost impossible job" of overturning the self-inflicted deficit when they travel to the Bernabeu in three weeks following a catalogue of defensive mistakes.

PAUL GORST: What defiant Liverpool fans sang as Jurgen Klopp's Real Madrid prediction comes true

IAN DOYLE: Jurgen Klopp gets it right with defence as Liverpool change painfully apparent

JURGEN KLOPP: Liverpool boss laments 'pretty obvious' problem that Real Madrid exposed

But the Dutchman has warned Liverpool cannot be affected by the chastening loss as they look to continue their challenge for a top-four Premier League finish when they visit Crystal Palace on Saturday evening.

"The way we lost, almost not giving ourselves a chance in Madrid, is tough," said Van Dijk. "We played against Real Madrid, the holders of the Champions League. Quality players all over the team, they can punish you and punish mistakes that you make and that's what they did, especially in the second half. It is pretty clear to see (we made) mistakes that we shouldn't make but it happens in football.

"You know, we're not robots, sometimes mistakes happen and unfortunately that is the case. The only thing we can do is learn from it and focus on the next one to make sure that it doesn't happen. In the last two games we played well and that's something we should focus on as well and don't be in panic.

"Obviously we are all disappointed we lost, that is how we should be. We have to recover now and focus on Crystal Palace."

Van Dijk added: "It's hard. It is difficult but it is the hard reality and something we have to deal with, we have to deal with as a group, as a unit. It's not been the easiest season so far but the only way to get out of it is to stick together and that's the message – even after now.

"Everyone is angry, everyone is obviously disappointed but the next game is in a few days so if we want to perform there, we have to quickly change the switch and that's what we're going to do."

YOUR SAY: Can Liverpool turn the tie around in the second leg? Answer this, and two more key questions from Tuesday's defeat, in our special poll:

Liverpool had never before conceded more than three goals at home in a European match, while the only other time they had leaked five anywhere in European competition was when losing 5-1 at Ajax in December 1966.

The Reds had been in control early on through goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah, before defensive errors allowed Vinicius Junior to score twice before the break. Eder Militao then capitalised on slack marking moments after half-time at a free-kick before Karim Benzema netted a brace, the first of which deflected in off Joe Gomez.

And when asked to explain Liverpool's remarkable collapse, Van Dijk said: “A football thing. You play football also with your head but it is a football thing. You make mistakes and they punish you. We have almost an impossible job in Madrid in three weeks' time but when the time is right, we'll focus and we'll give everything to represent the club as good as we can.

"We started fantastic and were 2-0 up and we gave it away because of mistakes we made and we play against Real Madrid who punish you immediately. That is the hard reality. We know the quality they have and I think we were rushed at time and losing the ball in difficult moments and they have the pace and quality to punish up and they were fantastic."

READ NEXT:

Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here