Liverpool Look to Learn from Sloppy Champions League Performance

It’s better to learn your lessons in victory than in defeat. That was the message following Liverpool’s 4-3 victory over RB Salzburg on Wednesday evening as the Reds let a seemingly comfortable lead turn into a tight, nervy affair.

“We conceded three goals at home,” start centre half Virgil van Dijk said following the match. “Obviously that is not a good sign, but that’s maybe a good thing. We still have to improve—and we will. There is no reason for panic.

“The goal we conceded in the first half gave them a little bit more hope to go into the second. And the second half, especially the first 20 minutes, they did well and we didn’t. They were clinical with the chances they had.”

Liverpool conceded three goals but, in the end, won, doing just enough; doing what they needed to to stay in the thick of it in their Champions League group after a disappointing loss in matchweek one on the road against Napoli.

Which means that, now, they can focus on doing better from a position of strength rather than weakness, knowing that their European future is well within their control. It’s a victory that can, perhaps, push them on to better things.

The complacency that crept in on Wednesday wasn’t a good thing, but knowing you can be better when you’re top of the league and well positioned in your Champions League group at the start of October is a very good place to be.

“We should have done better,” Van Dijk added. “Maybe it is a good thing that we still have to improve. We will analyse that and hopefully do better at the weekend.”