Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk has confessed that despite their preparations, the team was unable to thwart Brentford's set-piece threat in defeat in west London. The Reds suffered a 3-2 loss, extending their losing streak to four Premier League games and equalling their total league losses from the entire 2024/25 season.

Brentford took an early lead just five minutes into the game with Dango Ouattara's spectacular volley beyond Giorgi Mamardashvili, while Igor Thiago scored a penalty in the second half after Van Dijk conceded a soft foul. Liverpool also fell victim to Brentford's swift counter-attacks in the closing stages of the first half, with Mikkel Damsgaard's pass to Kevin Schade slicing through the Liverpool defence.

In a concerning admission, Van Dijk revealed that despite their efforts to neutralise Brentford's strengths, Liverpool simply couldn't stop the Bees.

"Obviously, a disappointing night," the Liverpool captain said. "We conceded two goals again in the first half, in what we obviously trained on as well, because their throw-in are obviously very dangerous.

"I think the first one we defended well, but we gave them opportunity after opportunity after that to put it back in.

"The second one was on transition, which is obviously a strength of theirs as well. So yeah, disappointed, but we scored a good goal just before the break. And then you have to keep going.

"I think we gave maybe 10 throw-ins away in the first 20 minutes. And if that's the strength of the opponent, then obviously you're asking for trouble. So, it's disappointing, but more disappointing that obviously we can't keep a clean sheet at the moment.

"You know, something that I'm obviously also part of, like the rest of the team. It's not only one player or the back line, it's everyone that's responsible for that and we have to improve in order to get back to winning ways in the league."

This marked yet another display where Liverpool appeared vulnerable defensively.

Van Dijk struggled against the physical Thiago, whilst Milos Kerkez delivered another poor performance, with a glaring absence of midfield protection evident throughout.

"Well, obviously second half we're trying a lot more, we're taking risks, so it will be more chaotic at times because you're pushing and you're trying and you are forcing," was Van Dijk's assessment of the disjointed display.

"The matter of fact is that we lost four Premier League games in a row and that we want to turn that around asap.

"The aim was obviously to build on the performance that we had in Germany, but unfortunately, we couldn't do that today. So we have another opportunity on Wednesday to try and get a good performance in, find a clean sheet hopefully and win the game."

Van Dijk was also left seething at the penalty decision that went against him.

Despite referee Tim Robinson initially awarding a free-kick, replays revealed the foul occurred on the line of the box, prompting VAR to award a penalty.

The Dutchman argued that if his incident warranted a spot kick, then Cody Gakpo should have been given one in the first half after being brought down in the area.

"I don't think it was too clear and obvious, but listen, the fact is he gives it and we have to deal with it," the 34-year-old explained.

"But my opinion, then you have to also give the first one to Cody. But it is what it is, we can't change it. And it is a situation that these decisions at the moment don't fall our way, but we have to deal with what we can control and that's to improve because that's needed, all of us."