The Reds’ perfect start to the domestic season came to an end at the Villa Park as Aston Villa ran riot against the reigning Premier League champions.
Summer signing Ollie Watkins' perfect hat-trick and John McGinn's deflected volley made sure Liverpool, who scored through Mohamed Salah, trailed 4-1 at halftime.
Debutant Ross Barkley scored Villa’s fifth goal ten minutes after the break before Salah had his second of the night.
Jack Grealish capped off a stellar performance with two goals to put the game beyond Liverpool’s reach.
"It's hard to lose the way we lost. First and foremost well done to Aston Villa, we have to give them the credit they deserve,” Van Dijk told reporters after the game.
“It was one of those performances where we weren't 100% at it from start to finish. We could have done better with the goals we conceded.”
“Overall we're all disappointed, we shouldn't have lost with the numbers that we did but it's about sticking together and making sure it doesn't happen again.
"You can't take the credit away from Aston Villa, but we should have been more clinical. In all aspects of the game we should have done much better.
“It's important not to get crazy but we've got to step it up and the performance level between the Arsenal league win and today was too big."
