Van Dijk admits he and Liverpool have to improve

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk admits he has to improve his performances, not because of the scrutiny he is receiving but because he feels a responsibility for their inconsistent form.

The Netherlands captain's season has matched that of the team in not quite being at the highest level and, as a result, a player who has regularly been hailed as the world's best defender has come in for criticism.

Van Dijk pointedly called out ex-professionals-turned-pundits for not appreciating the current situation at Anfield - they have eight players injured - but accepts he and the team have to raise their standards.

"What we did last week (losing 4-1 against Napoli) was unacceptable, all of us, and the days after that game we definitely had a reality check," he said.

"The obvious criticism is there, but ex-pros and players who have played at this level know there are times when you can have a blip, a period like this unfortunately, and it is how you react to it.

"They have been in our situation and everyone has been acting like you can't have a bad period, a difficult game or a difficult situation.

"It is too easy to say these type of things, but they are doing their job and that is what they do. I would never go down that route (being a pundit), I think."

On the focus being on him, the Dutchman, who has been captaining the side when James Milner has not been selected in the absence of the injured Jordan Henderson, added: "That's the good and the bad thing about it. If we do well I obviously get praise and if we don't then I don't.

"But I still think I need to improve and that's fine. The only way to do it is to play the games, learn from the mistakes, don't listen to the outside world too much, speak to the people close to you.

"I've