Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk has put Liverpool’s 1-0 Champions League loss against Atletico Madrid down to bad luck and warned the Spanish club there is still another 90 minutes of the last-16 tie to play at Anfield.
Saul Niguez’s fourth-minute strike on Tuesday’s Champions League clash gave Atletico a slender lead to take into the return fixture against holders of the tournament Liverpool at Anfield on March 11.
The Spanish winger poked the ball home from close range after a corner fell kindly into his path and Diego Simeone’s Atletico kept their advantage intact at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Although the reigning champions dominated possession in the Spanish capital Jurgen Klopp’s side failed to register a single attempt on target, with Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson squandering their respective chances.
Despite the defeat against a stubborn and solid Atletico Madrid, Liverpool defender Van Dijk is remaining upbeat ahead of the second leg in a little over three weeks’ time at Merseyside.
The 28-year-old said that it was bad luck to concede a goal but Liverpool still has 90 minutes to set the tie right, “We conceded the goal from the corner, the first chance for them, not even a chance. Bit of luck, The message at half-time was to keep playing. We had the ball most of the game but unfortunately could not create massive opportunities. We still have another 90 minutes to set it right. It is the way they play. It is a bit of the Spanish football as well and you have to adapt but we knew it and I feel we handled it pretty well.”
