In a post-match interview, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk shared his reflections on the disappointment of Liverpool's exit from the Europa League quarter-finals, despite a second-leg victory over Atalanta. Van Dijk highlighted the difference between the team's first and second-half performances as a key factor in their downfall.

According to Van Dijk, the biggest problem for Liverpool in the second half was their inability to maintain the same tempo as in the first half. He acknowledged the impact of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who made a return after being absent for some time. Van Dijk credited Alexander-Arnold and Alexis Mac Allister for setting the tempo, rhythm, and direction of the game initially. However, Alexander-Arnold's energy levels dropped as the match progressed, affecting their performance. Despite Mac Allister's commendable effort, it was not enough to secure a victory.

Van Dijk emphasized that if Liverpool had maintained a higher rhythm for a longer period, any changes made by Atalanta in the second half would not have been a decisive factor. He expressed frustration with their lack of chances and emphasized the need to create more goal-scoring opportunities to destabilize their opponents.

Turning to the topic of Mohamed Salah's recent form, Van Dijk dismissed concerns and mentioned that every striker goes through periods of inconsistency. He described Salah as one of the most experienced players in the squad and highlighted his previous ability to convert chances effectively. Van Dijk did not wish to turn Salah's missed chances into a major issue, acknowledging that it is a part of the game.

Despite the disappointment of the Europa League exit, Van Dijk accepted that Atalanta deserved to progress and expressed his satisfaction with that outcome. He stressed that it is important to deserve victory rather than advancing undeservedly.

Overall, Van Dijk remains optimistic about Liverpool's future and believes that both the team and Salah will overcome this challenging period.