Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool will 'bounce back' after Carabao Cup heartbreak

Virgil van Dijk admitted it was "very hard" to put into words as Liverpool endured a "difficult and disappointing" week, culminating in a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.

The Reds were unable to defend their title at Wembley, with Arne Slot missing out on his first trophy since replacing JÃƒ¼rgen Klopp.

Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak put Newcastle in control before a late strike from Federico Chiesa offered Liverpool brief hope.

Desperate for an equaliser, Slot made the bold tactical decision to push Van Dijk forward as an emergency striker in the final moments.

However, Newcastle's defence held firm to secure their first major trophy in decades.

Reflecting on the result, Van Dijk admitted the disappointment was tough to accept.

"First of all congratulations to everyone at Newcastle United," he said.

"It's been a difficult and disappointing week for us and it's very hard for me to put it in to words right now.

"Only thing I can say is that we want to bounce back, and we will! See you after the international break."