Steven Gerrard lays into Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk for 'worrying' behavior
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Liverpool was thrashed by Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals over the weekend, and after the game two important players admitted the performance lacked fightSteven Gerrard was concerned by the post-game comments from some Liverpool players(Image: News Images/NurPhoto)Steven Gerrard said that the comments from Liverpool's players after the loss to Manchester City on Sunday were worrying.The Reds were thrashed 4-0 by City in the FA Cup quarter-finals, and the post-game comments from Virgil van Dijk raised eyebrows, after the Liverpool captain admitted that his team "gave up" after City had amassed a sizeable lead.Van Dijk's comments came after Dominik Szoboszlai was involved in a bizarre exchange with supporters after the final whistle, when the Hungarian midfielder appeared to vent frustration in the direction of some of the fans who had stayed until the end of the game, shrugging his shoulders and pulling a quizzical facial expression.READ MORE: French media publishes PSG's expected line-up vs Liverpool two days earlyREAD MORE: Tyler Morton shows Liverpool made a mistake selling him with latest commentsThousands of the Liverpool fans who had packed out the away end for the start of the game left before the final whistle, after four City goals in the space of 20 minutes either side of half time effectively put the tie to bed.“It’s on us,” Van Dijk said. “The fans were there to support us and I can only apologize to the fans for what we have shown, especially the second half.
Our second half, the intensity we didn’t match, the challenges we didn’t win, it was tough. To lose then 4-0 is tough.”Szoboszlai himself criticized the team's performance, saying: "The fighting spirit wasn't there enough, the mentality wasn't there enough.
None of us were there, to be honest, as much as we could."Dominik Szoboszlai admitted Liverpool lacked fight against City(Image: 2026 Simon Stacpoole/Offside)Gerrard was concerned by the remarks of Van Dijk and Szoboszlai, suggesting that the standards have slipped below what is required at a club like Liverpool."They (Liverpool) had the chances, which they never took," Gerrard said. "I think we all know, in the big games, you've got to take your chances when they come along."Take nothing away from City, they were outstanding over the course of the game, nut it was really worrying and concerning they way Liverpool did crumble."And also, even more alarming, what the players were saying after the game, in terms of saying there's no fight and, 'We gave the game up.'"At Liverpool Football Club, that can't happen on the pitch and it certainly can't be said off the pitch.