The Reds were eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday night at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain after two games in which the Ligue 1 champions dominated the Premier League leaders.

Paul Merson believes Liverpool could be mentally affected by the result ahead of their Carabao Cup final with Newcastle on Sunday, however, Eddie Howe’s men are one of the teams the Reds looked their best against over the last two months.

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ESPN FC pundit Craig Burley has also noticed a change in four of Liverpool’s biggest players, who have not looked like themselves over the past six weeks.

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When it comes to the 2024/25 campaign, four names that have had the biggest impact on Liverpool’s success have been Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister.

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Speaking on ESPN FC after Liverpool’s defeat to PSG in the Champions League, Burley highlighted this, while also singling out Van Dijk for his performance at Anfield on Tuesday night.

“Liverpool looked vulnerable at the back and I think for them, it’s a good job that they’ve started the season like a rocket ship, and they’ve got this big gap in the Premier League because they’re starting to see a bit of tiredness, a bit of bad decision making,” the ESPN pundit stated.

“Some of the guys have carried them all season, like Mac Allister, like Gravenberch, like Salah and dare say I even say Virgil Van Dijk, are not looking like the players that they were I think maybe six weeks ago.

“Steve mentioned it during the game.

Mo Salah in the final third, Mac Allister and Gravenberch were getting caught on the ball.”

Despite being eliminated from the Champions League, Liverpool captain Van Dijk is still optimistic about the rest of the season and has stated that there is a lot to look forward to.

Liverpool are heavy favourites to win the Premier League this season with the title race looking like it is done and dusted with nine games to go.

That would have been the Reds’ main objective ahead of the current season and they will have the chance to add the Carabao Cup to that this Sunday against Newcastle.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is an injury concern ahead of the trip to Wembley, but all the negative things from Liverpool’s defeat to PSG do not seem to be getting Van Dijk too low.

“I just want to congratulate PSG,” the Liverpool captain told Ilies Peteers after being eliminated from the Champions League.

“We’ve got 10 more games now and we’re going to give it everything and hopefully can celebrate something very nice at the end of the season.”

Van Dijk has been immense for Liverpool this season and will deserve to crown his season with trophies, beginning with Sunday’s cup final.

The centre-back’s future at Anfield remains up in the air due to his contract situation, however, the Liverpool captain seems to be looking forward to the rest of the season.
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