Expectations are high for Liverpool next season, but Virgil van Dijk has issued an important message to ensure no-one gets ahead of themselves.
Having secured another top four finish in the Premier League last season along with our run to the Champions League final, there was much to already be positive about.
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However, the additions of Alisson, Fabinho, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri this summer have added strength, quality and depth to the squad, which will hopefully result in a sustainable run from the players towards winning major honours.
Van Dijk is confident that the Reds are now well placed to challenge on various fronts, but the Dutch international prefers to prove it on the pitch rather than talk about it too much which is undoubtedly the best way to approach it.
“With the players we have and we had already last season we can compete in every competition,” he told Sky Sports. “Hopefully we are going to do something special this year. I don’t like to look too far ahead – we just need to do the talking on the pitch and make sure we perform well.”
Given that we finished 25 points adrift of champions Man City last season, there is an obvious gap that needs to be closed and so we have to show significant improvement and consistency to seriously contend for the title.
Meanwhile, the defensive department has undoubtedly been strengthened this summer with the arrival of Alisson, and while Van Dijk rates our new Brazilian shot-stopper, he couldn’t help but have a cheeky dig at the former Roma man after our meeting with them last season.
“He is a quality keeper – that is for sure,” he added. “He conceded a couple of goals against us [in the Champions League] but it can happen against us!”
Now that they’re on the same team, we’re sure Alisson will see the funny side…