Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk welcomed the gamers’ response after they bounced again from a shock defeat to Nottingham Forest to beat AC Milan within the San Siro.

The Netherlands worldwide was happy there was no repeat of Saturday’s efficiency when he felt they have been “operating round wanting like we now have completely no plan.”

As an alternative they loved a super Champions League away day, made extra spectacular as they reacted calmly to conceding within the third minute and didn’t attempt to power their method again into the sport, sticking to go coach Arne Slot‘s rules as they gained 3-1 to quieten the weekend’s criticism.

Requested if it was the right response, Van Dijk mentioned: “No, not after three minutes. However after three minutes I feel it was superb in so some ways.

“We stayed calm, performed how we wished to play relatively than operating round wanting like we now have completely no plan like we did particularly within the final 20 to half-hour within the second half of the final recreation when you possibly can play for an additional hour and also you gained’t rating.”

When it comes to the criticism the staff acquired after that Forest end result, Van Dijk added: “For who it’s a catastrophe? What are you able to do in regards to the outdoors?

“You’ll be able to’t do something in regards to the outdoors. The one affect we now have is what we do on the pitch and also you noticed it.

“It’s about delivering at this time and tomorrow and in case you don’t then the strain comes from the surface however we now have to remain calm.

“I’ve an enormous function in that, the supervisor himself has a task in that however on the finish of the day we, as gamers, have to point out it on the pitch.”

Slot’s persistence with a just about unchanged staff for the primary 4 matches of the season began to come back underneath scrutiny however he maintained that stance with simply two alterations on the San Siro.

Nonetheless, a kind of – Cody Gakpo – was a revelation on his first begin of the marketing campaign and put in a efficiency harking back to his shows for Netherlands at Euro 2024.

“I feel final yr he performed superb video games as properly, I don’t assume you must overlook that,” mentioned compatriot Van Dijk.

“The final couple of weeks, aside from going to the nationwide staff, I’ve seen what he can produce and everyone knows what he can produce however whenever you play one recreation per week and gamers – on this case Lucho – did very properly then you need to be affected person.

“We’d like everybody to be at their finest and also you noticed he may make a distinction with crosses and an help as properly. We’d like everybody and this was instance of that.”

Liverpool’s opening two targets, by way of the heads of centre-backs Ibrahima Konate and Van Dijk, each got here from set-pieces.

The membership marketed for a brand new set-piece coach through the summer season however that function has not but been crammed and a easy change to the plan, making all corners and large free-kicks inswingers, has already made a distinction.

“We attempt in each recreation to be necessary at set-pieces. The final recreation in opposition to Forest I had two possibilities however the factor is it appears to be like simpler than what it’s,” mentioned Van Dijk.

“Me and Ibou are each 6’4” or no matter and we should always rating from each ball that comes into the field however typically you get double-marked and the supply isn’t all the time excellent and you need to combat for it.

“However we have been there and also you see how necessary it may be. Ibou’s purpose was huge and my purpose earlier than the break was an enormous assist and saved us going for the second half.”