Liverpool's recent victory over Real Madrid has brought some relief to the team. Virgil van Dijk emphasised the importance of maintaining perspective amid their challenging period. Liverpool secured a 1-0
win at Anfield, marking their third win in four Champions League games this season. They currently hold sixth place in the standings, thanks to Alexis Mac Allister's decisive header.
The Reds showcased a strong defensive performance, restricting Real Madrid to just two shots on target. Thibaut Courtois' efforts prevented a larger scoreline. Van Dijk highlighted that staying calm and focused is crucial for overcoming difficult phases. Liverpool had previously lost six out of seven matches before defeating Aston Villa last Saturday.
Van Dijk shared his thoughts with Amazon Prime, stating, "A lot of energy, a lot of hard work. They have a lot of quality, we all know their strengths, how they can punish you. We performed our gameplan perfectly. " He stressed the importance of keeping perspective and working hard to improve their situation.
During an interview with Amazon Prime, Wayne Rooney joined Van Dijk as a pundit. Van Dijk addressed Rooney's criticism of Liverpool as "lazy," suggesting some pundits exaggerated the team's struggles. He acknowledged that while criticism is fair after consecutive losses, it can sometimes be excessive.
Liverpool restricted Real Madrid to just 0.45 xG tonight. That's the lowest figure Madrid have registered in any game in over a year (0.47 vs Villarreal Oct 2024). #LIVRMA #UCL pic.twitter.com/3bQNii3Z5m
Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) November 4, 2025
Van Dijk expressed his commitment to improving for the team and fans, saying, "I want to perform for the team, the club, and every one of the supporters. " He noted that losing games is painful but remains determined to turn things around due to the team's daily hard work and quality.
Liverpool's European Record
Liverpool has inflicted five defeats on Real Madrid in European competitions, matching Inter Milan and Manchester City. Only Bayern Munich (11), Juventus (nine), and AC Milan (seven) have more victories against Madrid in these tournaments.
Van Dijk believes that Liverpool's defensive efforts were key to their success against Real Madrid. He stated, "The defence is hopefully the basis of success. " He cited Arsenal's strong performance based on clean sheets as an example to follow.
The focus now shifts to maintaining this momentum as Liverpool prepares for another challenging match against Manchester City on Sunday.
