Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk up for vast PSG challenge but admits season ‘unacceptable’

<ul><li><p>‘No one gives us a chance … we have to show the fight’</p></li><li><p>Champions League first-leg loss was side’s 16th of season</p></li></ul><p>Virgil van Dijk has compared the scale of Liverpool’s task against Paris Saint-Germain <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/07/liverpool-barcelona-champions-league-semi-final-second-leg-match-report">to Barcelona in 2019</a> but conceded belief may not be as strong in Arne Slot’s team amid an “unacceptable” season.</p><p>Liverpool require another remarkable Anfield comeback to salvage their Champions League aspirations after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/08/psg-liverpool-champions-league-quarter-final-first-leg">losing the first leg of their quarter-final</a> against PSG 2-0 on Wednesday. The scoreline flattered the Premier League champions, who were outclassed at the Parc des Princes, yet Van Dijk is “100%” convinced the tie can be transformed on home soil. Memories of Barcelona in 2019 fuel the captain’s conviction.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/09/liverpool-virgil-van-dijk-up-psg-challenge-admits-season-unacceptable-champions-league">Continue reading...</a>