Virgil van Dijk insists Liverpool cannot feel sorry for themselves or make excuses for an “unacceptable” season.

Liverpool went down 3-2 to fierce rivals Manchester United on Sunday, having initially come back from 2-0 down.

With three matches of the Premier League season remaining, Arne Slot’s team sit fourth, though their place in the Champions League for next season is not yet assured.

And captain Van Dijk knows how underwhelming the campaign has been for the Reds, who aimed to build on last season’s title win by spending big in the transfer market.

“I’m not here to make excuses,” Van Dijk said, as reported by BBC Sport.

“It’s been a very disappointing season, an unacceptable season, and it’s tough. We shouldn’t feel sorry for ourselves whatsoever.

“We have to work and turn this around and make sure that next season these things don’t happen. It’s not Liverpool.”