Virgil van Dijk delivers Anfield crowd verdict after recent Liverpool criticism

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Liverpool.com or go back to LFC Live.

Liverpool IconLiverpool FC NewsFeaturesVirgil Van DijkThe fans booed Liverpool's players off the pitch against Tottenham but pushed the Reds on to a much-improved display in the Champions League win over GalatasarayVirgil van Dijk discussed the atmosphere at Anfield following Liverpool's win over GalatasarayVirgil van Dijk said Liverpool and their supporters must work in tandem if the team is to reach its best levels.The response from the Anfield crowd to recent performances has been a major talking point in recent weeks, especially after fans booed Sunday’s dismal draw against Tottenham, and Dominik Szoboszlai expressed his frustration that so many opted to leave early.With no Galatasaray fans permitted entry to Anfield on Wednesday for another famous Champions League night under the lights, a week on from the intimidating atmosphere in Istanbul, the focus was very much on what reception the players received from the supporters.READ MORE: Arne Slot provides Mo Salah injury update after Liverpool star asked to come offREAD MORE: Liverpool discovers PSG fixture date as Champions League reunion beckonsOn this occasion, Arne Slot’s side fed off the fans' intensity and noise, as Liverpool produced arguably the best performance of the season to beat Galatasaray 4-0 and book a place in the quarter-finals.Speaking after the game, Van Dijk admitted the players were buoyed by the passionate response from the supporters.“It’s a combination of performance and the fans, they play a big part in that,” the Liverpool skipper told reporters.Liverpool earned a comfortable win over Galatasaray(Image: Getty Images)“The fans can probably say if we bring that every week on the pitch then there is no issue and we can say if the fans bring that every three or four days, then there is no issue either. It is about doing it together.“This season, as players, we take full responsibility for a lot of performances when we have not been good enough.

But for me, there is no point to speak about it right now after we qualified for the last eight because that is still a very good thing.“There was a lot at stake tonight, that was pretty obvious,” Van Dijk added. “We had to show how much we wanted it together with our fans, who played a big part.“For me personally, I played last week in Istanbul and saw how big an impact their fans had on their performance and it was clear to see our fans played a big part in our performance.

We could have scored more goals but their goalkeeper still had a very good game in my opinion.”Van Dijk admitted he can understand Liverpool fans' frustration(Image: MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Despite Szoboszlai’s negative verdict on the reaction of certain sections of Anfield on Sunday, Van Dijk opted not to criticize the supporters and admitted he can understand the disappointment that has built this campaign.“In all these years at Liverpool I’ve never ever questioned them and I still don’t.“There is a reason why there is frustration this season because we had an amazing season last year; we became champions, we had consistent, good football, finding ways to win, and this season we have had so many ups and downs dealing with difficult moments and there has been frustration because we want to perform every three or four days as well. But it is looking ahead and that’s my main focus.”Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCVirgil Van Dijk