Arne Slot’s team lost the shootout 4-1 after Tuesday’s last-16 second leg at Anfield finished 1-0 in the visitors’ favour after extra-time; a result that cancelled out Liverpool’s victory by the same scoreline in Paris last week.
Van Dijk said: “It was a very intense, great game of football. I think obviously it was a totally different Liverpool than what we showed in Paris, but unfortunately we are out on penalties and that’s the reality.
“I think in the first half we created dangerous moments [as well as the second half] and obviously you know that they have the quality to create them as well. Eventually it comes down to penalties and unfortunately we lost.
“It’s part of football. I said to the guys, ‘Obviously you can be disappointed because we are out of the competition but it’s chin up and get ready for the next challenge.’ It’s a beautiful one on the weekend so we go again.”
Liverpool will now focus on Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United at Wembley and Van Dijk added: “If we would play with the same quality and intensity that we did in regular time then it’s going to be a beautiful game.
“But the focus will be on recovery because everyone has to do that in order to be at their best on the weekend against a very good Newcastle, in my opinion, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
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