ReactionVirgil van Dijk: We have to fight to earn comeback against Galatasaray

A 1-0 defeat in Istanbul on Tuesday evening means the Reds trail at the halfway stage of their last-16 tie.

Mario Lemina put the Turkish opposition in front seven minutes into the first leg and, despite creating several chances, Liverpool could not muster an equaliser.

Therefore, advancement to the next stage can only be secured with a comeback under the lights in the return at Anfield next Wednesday.

“We have to fight, we have to deserve it. We have to earn the next round,” said Van Dijk post-match.

“Next week obviously is the decider. We’re at home but we have to show that we want and deserve to go through, first and foremost, in the way we play, defend and attack.

“You have to earn the right. You have to fight for it, the challenges, second-ball fight.

“In games we have been showing that and in some games we have been lacking, and that’s why we have been inconsistent unfortunately.

“But that’s something we want to improve and aim for. If we want to go through to the next round, we definitely have to show that on Wednesday.

“Those are the main things and together in our house, home and our fans, we hopefully can make it an amazing evening.”

Assessing how the first leg at RAMS Park panned out, the captain added: “We started the game well, maybe should have scored and that changes the momentum of the game and obviously the atmosphere in the stadium, but we didn’t.

“I don’t want to blame anything but we made some individual mistakes, we lost the ball in positions where we shouldn’t and then obviously with the pace and directness they have, they could look dangerous.

“I feel like we didn’t give away a big chance that much. We conceded from a set-piece so that confirms we still have work to do on that side, but 1-0 down, still all to play for.”