Liverpool suffered a damaging 3–0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon against Manchester City, and Reds captain Virgil van Dijk admitted that young defender Conor Bradley had a “difficult” time trying to contain Player of the Match Jeremy Doku.
City’s Belgian winger tormented Liverpool throughout the 90 minutes, scoring a stunning curling strike, winning an early penalty, and dominating his right-sided duels. Despite a penalty miss from Erling Haaland, City overwhelmed the visitors and climbed closer to the top of the Premier League table.
Van Dijk’s Frustrating Afternoon
Van Dijk endured an evening he will want to forget. After Haaland opened the scoring with a looping header, the Liverpool captain saw what he believed to be an equaliser ruled out for offside — Andy Robertson ducking out of the way while in an interfering position.
To compound matters, van Dijk inadvertently deflected Nico González’s strike past Giorgi Mamardashvili in first-half stoppage time, giving City a 2–0 lead.
“Doku Had a Good Game — It Was Difficult for Conor”
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, van Dijk was measured but honest in his assessment — and protective of Bradley, who was visibly targeted by City’s attacking transitions.
“The first half was difficult. They were much more comfortable on the ball. Doku had a good game and it was difficult for Conor in the one-on-one at times.”
Van Dijk insisted Liverpool were not “in massive trouble” structurally, but admitted they failed to press effectively.
“Our pressing wasn’t good enough. We had to dig deep. We got more momentum in possession, but we could have done better.”
Refusing to Dwell on Disallowed Goal
The Dutchman refused to comment in detail on the controversial disallowed goal, aware of the media speculation it could generate ahead of the international break.
“There is no point discussing this from my point of view. Anything I say will be in the media. The reality is we lost 3–0 — that’s the big blow.”
Eyes Forward — “We’re Ready for a Big Fight”
Despite the setback, van Dijk stressed Liverpool would not panic. With the club still firmly in the top-four hunt, he framed the defeat as an early-season lesson rather than a defining moment.
“It’s about finding consistency. We’re not going to give up. It’s November, and we’re ready for a long season and a big fight.”
Our View — Doku Exposed Liverpool’s Right Side
This was a tactical mismatch City exploited from the opening whistle. Doku repeatedly isolated Bradley, forcing Liverpool to collapse compactly and leaving gaps elsewhere. Bradley will learn from this level of exposure, and van Dijk’s public support reflects strong dressing-room unity.
Liverpool’s bigger concern is structural — their pressing, shape and transitions were far below their usual standard.
Key Details
- Score: Man City 3–0 Liverpool
- City scorers: Haaland, González, Doku
- Liverpool chance: Van Dijk had goal ruled out
- Van Dijk quote: “Doku had a good game… It was difficult for Conor.”
- Context: City close gap on Arsenal; Liverpool enter international break bruised
What’s Next
Liverpool head into the international break needing reset and clarity. Bradley’s response to this test — and van Dijk’s leadership — will be crucial when the Reds return to Premier League action later this month.
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