'A few things to say' - What blunt Virgil van Dijk told Liverpool team at half-time in Newcastle

Virgil van Dijk revealed he had "a few things to say" during a tense half-time interval of Liverpool's 3-3 draw with Newcastle

the Reds captain believes the thrilling game should ultimately be viewed as two points dropped

After Alexander Isak's opener had been cancelled out by Curtis Jones, Mohamed Salah scored two following Anthony Gordon's effort to send the Reds into stoppage time with a 3-2 lead before Fabian Schar equalised late on.

Van Dijk, says a candid team talk at the break, after such a frustrating opening 45 minutes, gave him the opportunity to relay some key messages to his colleagues

Van Dijk

"It was all about the players [at half time],"

"I had a few things to say, others did as well but we all know how it works in football, you still have plenty of time to turn it around. At 1-0 you have to do so many things differently.

"You can talk about tactics but it begins with winning battles, winning duels, winning 50/50 challenges and second balls, putting them under pressure and in the second half we showed that but unfortunately it wasn't enough to win it.

"What was lacking? Challenges. We know when we play here they have an extra...I don't know what happens to them but the fans feed them, they win their challenges, the fans feed off that as well.

"We were not good enough, not good at all then they create momentum, we don't, we lose the ball too easily at times, sloppy in possession and they make momentum.

“We had 50 minutes to put it right, which we did but unfortunately we couldn't get it over the line.”

"I think everyone was disappointed. It was 100% two points lost. To concede in the last couple of minutes - and the way we conceded - was very disappointing."

On Liverpool's title aspirations being dented by the draw, Van Dijk added:

"We always said we understand that it's only December, we have so many games coming up - I think eight more games.

"We need everyone to be on top form, fit and like the manager said we have five defenders for eight more games so we need to manage ourselves as well to be at our best. That's a big challenge.

"At the moment it wasn't about personnel or injuries, it was about the first half being poor in every aspect of the game as a collective. Second half we turned it around.

"It was a poor first half as a collective, with and without the ball.

“Second half we showed what we are capable of, obviously starting with winning our battles, 50/50 challenges, definitely better on the ball, scoring our goals but unfortunately couldn't get it over the line."