Virgil van Dijk insists Liverpool cannot feel sorry for themselves or make excuses for an "unacceptable" season.

Liverpool went down 3-2 to fierce rivals Manchester United on Sunday, having initially come back from 2-0 down.

With three matches of the Premier League season remaining, Arne Slot's team sit fourth, though their place in the Champions League for next season is not yet assured.

And captain Van Dijk knows how underwhelming the campaign has been for the Reds, who aimed to build on last season's title win by spending big in the transfer market.

"I'm not here to make excuses," Van Dijk said, as reported by BBC Sport.

"It's been a very disappointing season, an unacceptable season, and it's tough. We shouldn't feel sorry for ourselves whatsoever.

"We have to work and turn this around and make sure that next season these things don't happen. It's not Liverpool."

Liverpool have now lost 11 league games this season.

Leicester City (18 in 2016-17) were the most recent reigning champions to lose more Premier League matches.

"I think it's unacceptable that we have lost too many times as defending champions of the Premier League and we shouldn't accept it," Van Dijk added.

"There will be a lot of work that has to be done going into next season. When I am back from the World Cup I will go into it, but there is a lot of work to be done behind the scenes.

"I care so much about this club. I know that it has been a tough season, but I will always be there in good and bad days.

"But we have three games left and the realisation has to come from ourselves, as a group and as players, to make sure that we are in the Champions League because of the impact of it for the financial side for the club. But also because we want to be playing against the best teams in Europe.

"It's not easy. But we keep going."