Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk sent a classy message to Aston Villa after their huge win tonight - and declared it was time for his own team to "be very hard to each other" as they reflect on the result.
The Reds crashed to a dismal 7-2 defeat away in the Premier League.
It leaves Jurgen Klopp's men trailing Everton by three points going into the international break, with Goodison Park the next assignment.
The Dutchman said: "It's hard to lose the way we lost tonight.
"First and foremost, well done to Aston Villa. You have to give them the credit they deserve.
"But if we are looking at ourselves, it felt like it was one of those performances where we just weren't 100% at it. From the start until the finish.
"The goals we conceded - we should have done better. But also the chances we had. We had many. We should have done better [with those] as well.
"Overall we are very disappointed. We shouldn't lose with the numbers we did.
"And now it's key to stick together and [not] let this happen again."
Van Dijk was asked if there was a specific reason why the standards slipped so markedly this evening.
He told Sky Sports: "I don't know. You can't take the credit away from Aston Villa. Well done to them.
"We should have been more clinical. In all aspects of the game we should have done much better.
"We have to be very hard to each other. And we will be.
"It's key not to get crazy or anything. But we have to be stepping it up.
"The performance level between the last game against Arsenal [in the league] and today was too big. All of us - everyone has to take responsibility."
*What did you think of the shocking defeat to Villa? Have your say in the comments section.
