Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has called on the club to “show a reaction” after last season’s disappointing campaign, while urging supporters to give new manager Andoni Iraola time to implement his ideas.
Liverpool needed a 99th-minute penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai to secure a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United at St James’ Park on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
The result gave Iraola a point in his first competitive match in charge, but Liverpool once again showed defensive weaknesses as Newcastle repeatedly exposed the visitors on the counter-attack.
Arne Slot guided Liverpool to their 20th league title during his debut campaign in 2024/25. However, he was dismissed in May after the Reds finished fifth last season.
Van Dijk acknowledged that it would take time for Iraola and his players to adapt to a new system, particularly with new players also adjusting to the manager’s ideas.
“It’s absolutely normal in any type of profession, work, whatever you do, if you come in new and you have new plans and new ideas, then it takes a bit of time with new players,” Van Dijk said.
The Liverpool captain, however, stressed that the team must improve quickly and deliver a stronger response after last season’s poor performance.
“It’s down to us to do it as soon as we can, as soon as possible, because we want to improve, we want to win, we want to be better. That’s what we are going to try to do,” he said.
“We need to show a reaction from last year, that we are much better than last year, because this was very unacceptable.”
Iraola’s task has also been complicated by Liverpool’s limited activity in the transfer market.
The club lost Mohamed Salah, while Hugo Ekitike is facing a long-term injury. Liverpool have so far added Spanish winger Victor Munoz in attack, alongside defenders Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo.
Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, a two-time Champions League winner, has been linked with a move to Anfield, while reports indicate that Brighton have rejected two bids for winger Yankuba Minteh.
Van Dijk said the squad would benefit from further additions and expressed confidence in the club’s hierarchy to make the appropriate decisions.
“Everyone wants to see quality arrive regardless and I fully trust the club and the board to make the right decisions,” he added.
“That’s the only thing I can say, so let’s see what we are going to do.”
Liverpool will now look to build momentum under Iraola as the new Premier League campaign continues, with Van Dijk insisting that improvement must come quickly.
