Virgil van Dijk has admitted Liverpool were below par during their Community Shield defeat to Manchester City.
The two teams were separated by just one point in the Premier League last term and it took a penalty shoot-out to split them in the season opener at Wembley, with the scores level at 1-1 after 90 minutes.
Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo made the decisive intervention, saving Liverpool’s second penalty from Georginio Wijnaldum, with Gabriel Jesus firing home the crucial spot-kick.
City had led for most of normal time after former Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling scored against his old club for the first time in the 12th minute.
Champions League winners Liverpool responded well and went close several times before substitute Joel Matip levelled 13 minutes from time.
But it wasn’t to be for the Reds and, after being dribbled past for the first time in an astonishing 65 games, Van Dijk conceded the performance was not up to scratch.
“Well I think everyone knows the first half wasn’t the best,” Van Dijk admitted. “We didn’t play the best football that we normally can play.
“In the second half, we put them under more pressure and kept the ball quicker.
“We created chances but, you know, that’s part of football as well.”
The games between City and the Reds in the Premier League were equally as cagey and highlighted the gulf in class between the two sides and the rest of the division.
But with their rivals splashing the cash this summer, the Netherlands captain is convinced this season will be much closer than last campaign ahead of their first game against Norwich on Friday evening.
“The thing is, there are more teams who have improved around us,” he added.
“So it’s going to be tough for both of us [Man City and Liverpool], everyone is talking about how it will be a two-horse race but we can’t think too far ahead.
“We have to take it game-by-game and for us, the league starts on Friday.
Liverpool’s Champions League heroes Van Dijk and Wijnaldum given standing ovation as they join Holland squad
“We want to win the game by good football but, if necessary, we will grind it out as well because Norwich is not a bad side either.
It looks like the teams around us improved, what we all expected, so we’ll see.”
