Liverpool players raise eyebrows with activity days before Man Utd defeat
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There has been a suggestion online that the Reds' preparation ahead of the Old Trafford clash was not correct for such a big encounter - however, Virgil van Dijk has been among those to refute that claimLiverpool's players have been criticized for taking time away from the club ahead of the Manchester United clashLiverpool’s players have not lacked reasons for criticism this season, and many of the team’s flaws were evident again at Old Trafford on Sunday as the Reds fell to a 3-2 loss.However, one unexpected critique to emerge from that Manchester United setback was the negative assessment of the team’s build-up and preparation ahead of the game.Several players spent time away from the club at the start of the week. There will be one fewer session this week, as the Chelsea game is on Saturday.However, that did not stop Virgil van Dijk from being asked questions about Liverpool’s preparations for the game.Van Dijk rejected the thought that time off affected Liverpool's preparations against United(Image: Getty Images)The Liverpool captain claimed the players were only given one day off in the week, and how the squad decides to use that time is an individual choice.“I'm not sure it’s a holiday.
"But I think if you have one day off, and you don’t have many days off, everyone can decide what they want to do with their families. Everyone is an adult."This week, we have an early kick-off on Saturday, so preparation is on that.
It’s not that we have a holiday whatsoever.Liverpool trained four times ahead of United game(Image: 2026 Liverpool FC)"I wish we had a couple more days off at times because I think it works both ways. Like anyone else, I want this [the lack of consistent results] to be solved."Liverpool’s number of days off has been a topic of discussion before, particularly following the title win last season, when Arne Slot flew to Ibiza to celebrate.Questions were also asked when Slot left Liverpool during a mid-season international break, rather than remain at the AXA Training Centre, while several players also enjoyed time away in between matches against Newcastle United and Manchester City at the start of February.