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Virgil van Dijk has acknowledged that Liverpool can't hide from its recent run of four consecutive defeats, but insists the team equally must not dwell for too long on what is now their worst streak in 11 years.
A 2-1 loss to Manchester United on Sunday marked Arne Slot and his Premier League champions' fourth straight defeat, following losses at Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, and Chelsea prior to the international break.
Liverpool hasn't experienced such a poor run since November 2014, when it was managed by Brendan Rodgers, and a fifth consecutive defeat, against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday would match an unwanted record set 70 years ago.
Van Dijk recognizes that the players need to step up and respond in Germany this week, but also emphasized they can't let this dismal period affect them too much as the Champions League resumes.
"We will analyze everything that happened, but I've mentioned it many times, the focus now is on the Champions League," Van Dijk stated.
"We play again in a couple of days, so you have to do everything in your power to be physically recovered. Especially when you lose four games on the bounce, you have recover mentally as well. Everyone is doing it in their spare time in their own way but we have that responsibility.
"You can't hide, you have to keep going. You have to get a win and Wednesday is another opportunity.
"I think everyone here today (at Anfield) maybe felt a bit like that (anxious). You can understand it, coming back after the international break after three losses on the bounce everyone wants to see a good performance, including ourselves.
"If you want it too much then it can work the other way. It is about finding the right balance and never get too high and never get too low. We all want to win games but you have to do the right things in order to do so, all of us. Be ready for a big one during the week.
"It's been a while (since Liverpool have had a run like this). Not in my time we've been losing four in a row. We've been through difficult times in different circumstances and it is always a challenge but it is one we have to deal with.
"We have to have responsibility and the most important thing is to stick together, stay confident and keep working on the things we need to improve because there are loads of things at the moment we need to improve and try to find consistency. We have to do it with our fans and people who want to see us win."
Following Bryan Mbuemo's strike after just 62 seconds, it was Cody Gakpo who restored parity for Liverpool after Slot had brought on a host of attacking reinforcements including Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Federico Chiesa, who provided the assist.
However, the lopsided appearance of the side allowed United to strike late on, with Harry Maguire nodding home after 84 minutes to seal a first triumph for the Red Devils at Anfield since 2016.
Van Dijk added: "If you look at the starting line-up there were only two different players from last year so I don't think that is the problem either.
"The reality is we went 1-0 down pretty early on and had loads of time to put it right, we worked hard for it and they had some opportunities on the break, which was their plan, and then we got the equalizer and should have scored the 2-1 and we didn't do it.
"That is the disappointing part, you lose four in a row and it is down to us to put that right and we all want to do that as soon as possible.
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"[United's winner] was a corner so you have defensive organization so everyone on the pitch has a role and then when the ball gets cleared you have to make sure you stick to that role and unfortunately at that moment it didn't happen.
"We are a team who do not try to keep the draw, especially at home. We want to try to go for the win. We had the momentum to go for the 2-1 after the equalizer and when you have that feeling you just go for it.
"I want to win the game. It is easy to say as we've just lost. Hopefully we will be on the other side of it, like we have been doing in the past. We've never been playing for a draw — maybe we have but I can't remember it.
"I think you work so hard to get back into the game, create good opportunities to score hopefully the winner, didn't do that and to concede late on sums up the last three games for us.
"It's tough to take but we have to take it. It's reality. We have to deal with it as players — all of us who are trying to win games, including our fans, and move on to the next one."
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