Liverpool skipper Van Dijk understands ‘doubts’ over lack of recruitment

Van Dijk replaced Jordan Henderson as the Merseyside outfit’s skipper after the England midfielder ended a 12-year-stay at Liverpool to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq l

Virgil van Dijk #4 (2L) of Liverpool celebrates with Cody Gakpo #18 after scoring their second goal off a header against Bayern Munich during the first half of the pre-season friendly at the National Stadium on August 02, 2023 in Singapore. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said he understands people’s concerns over the Premier League club’s lack of transfer business ahead of the new season but the defender urged his teammates to step up following the departure of several key players.

The 32-year-old Van Dijk, who also captains the Netherlands national team, replaced Jordan Henderson as the Merseyside outfit’s skipper after the England midfielder ended a 12-year-stay at Liverpool to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq last month.

Liverpool has lost as many as six senior players, with Henderson and Fabinho moving to Saudi Arabian sides, while fellow midfielders Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, Naby Keita, and forward Roberto Firmino leaving on free transfers.

With three days to go before the start of the new season, the number of arrivals at Anfield has not kept pace with exits, with midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai being the only two players Liverpool have signed in the close season.

“I can definitely understand it in some ways, but I’m not a very negative person,” said Van Dijk, who moved from Championship side Southampton to Liverpool in 2018, referring to fans’ worries.

“But obviously, when a lot of players are leaving, when your captain is leaving, your vice-captain is leaving, and at the moment, there are only two incomings.

“And the way we have been playing, in possession really good, but defensively when you concede goals, it’s not as good, I can understand some people having doubts.”

After narrowly missing out on an unprecedented quadruple in the 2021-22 season, winning two domestic cups, the six-time European champion will not feature in the Champions League for the first time since manager Juergen Klopp’s first full season in 2016-17.

“Let’s see if more players are coming in, and then we have to be ready again for a long season. It will be very tough if we look at the teams around us, but we want to be up there again, we want to be challenging again,” the Dutchman said.

“We have to be confident, we should be confident, and we should still be learning each and every day.

“There have been characters leaving, players who have played a big part in the success, but others have to step up. That’s a nice challenge in my opinion. We should be excited.”

Liverpool will kick-off its campaign with a trip to Chelsea on Sunday.