'I Don’t Like Boos': Van Dijk Responds After Liverpool Drop Points vs Burnley

‎Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk has addressed the reaction from supporters at Anfield after the Reds were booed off the pitch following a disappointing 1-1 draw against Burnley. The Dutch defender admitted he was unhappy with the jeers, as patience continues to be tested during an uneven 2025-26 campaign.

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‎Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk admits he “doesn’t like boos” after fans jeered the Reds following a 1-1 draw with Burnley, as Arne Slot and his players face growing pressure in the 2025-26 season.

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‎Liverpool, who were shaped into serial contenders under Jurgen Klopp, lifted another Premier League title under Arne Slot. However, this season has been far from smooth, with inconsistency undermining their efforts despite remaining inside the top four.

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‎Those struggles were underlined by the home stalemate with relegation-threatened Burnley. The hosts looked set to claim victory when Florian Wirtz, the club’s £116 million ($155m) signing, put them ahead. Earlier, Dominik Szoboszlai had missed a penalty by striking the crossbar.

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‎Liverpool failed to build on that advantage, allowing Burnley to stay in contention. The visitors equalised in the 65th minute through Marcus Edwards and held firm to secure a point, prompting audible frustration from the stands.

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‎The Reds have now dropped points at Anfield against all three newly promoted sides this season, with Leeds and Sunderland also taking draws. Supporters are increasingly concerned that long-standing issues remain unresolved.

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‎Van Dijk acknowledged the team’s shortcomings and stressed the need for improvement. “Frustration is the word which is definitely in my head,” he said. “After 60 minutes, we started to become sloppy and it's not the first time. We have to address that. It's been spoken about already but we have to address it again apparently.”

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‎He added: “We have another 48 hours to assess it, ourselves and the staff, and we will debrief and then we have to act. I'd say there is something lacking at the moment and we want to change that.”

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‎Reflecting on the reaction from the crowd, Van Dijk said: “That's the reality and we need support. I don't like boos from my own fans.”

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‎Head coach Arne Slot admitted he understood the frustration felt by supporters, some of whom left before the final whistle. The Dutchman is enduring a difficult second season in charge.

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‎“In my head it wasn't booing but in my head it was frustration as well,” Slot said. “If you, as Liverpool, are not disappointed by having a draw at home to Burnley then something is completely wrong. I completely understand the frustration. I have the same frustrations and the players definitely have the same frustrations as the fans.”

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‎Liverpool’s schedule remains demanding, starting with a Champions League trip to Marseille on Wednesday. Mo Salah could return after finishing his Africa Cup of Nations duties with Egypt.

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‎Despite questions surrounding Salah’s future following a critical outburst aimed at the club, Van Dijk is eager to welcome him back. “Mo is a very important member of our squad on and off the pitch,” he said. “Unfortunately he couldn't get to the final of the AFCON but when he is back he needs to help us.”

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‎The Reds currently sit outside the Champions League top eight and may need to navigate the play-offs to reach the last 16. A positive result against Marseille, featuring Mason Greenwood, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and others, would be timely.

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‎Further challenges await domestically, with an away trip to Bournemouth followed by home clashes against Newcastle and Manchester City, as the race for the top four tightens in a congested table.