Liverpool have shipped four goals inside a week and skipper Virgil van Dijk acknowledges there is much room for improvement
Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez of Liverpool high five as they warm up prior to the Premier League match against Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15 2025
Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez of Liverpool high five as they warm up prior to the Premier League match against Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15 2025
(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk can't help but laugh when the question he had been expected inevitably arrived. Just what had the Liverpool captain made of another less than convincing defensive performance from the Premier League champions?
"That's for you guys to discuss, you all have opinions!" chuckles Van Dijk in response.
Certainly, scrutiny of the Reds' leaky rearguard that became a talking point throughout the summer has intensified during the past week with two goals shipped in successive games, first in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace and then again on Friday evening in the 4-2 Premier League opening day win at home to Bournemouth.
And when pressed on the matter as a widely-acknowledged virtuoso in the defensive arts, Van Dijk was a little more forthcoming.
“I think it was much more improved than the last game but there is still work to do," he admit. "The manager already said we are playing with a right-back who came from the Bundesliga, is 24 years old and is trying to get used to how we defend.
"We play with Milos who is a very young full-back, very eager and full of energy, who is trying to get used to the way we play. It needs time, that's absolutely normal, but we also played without our six, Ryan Gravenberch.
"We have to keep working, that's the main thing, trying to keep clean sheets. We conceded two goals in a transition moment where we have to do better. That's what we have to work on.
"But I'm glad we managed to find a win; we had so many good moments but many moments to improve as well. I wouldn't say normal, but when there are changes to the team, getting used to the intensity, then things like this can happen."
Full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez were making their first Premier League starts for Liverpool - both replaced on the hour, with the former complaining of a sore hamstring - in a defence missing the usual shield of Gravenberch.
Throw in the absence of injured Conor Bradley, a first Premier League outing this year from the bench for Joe Gomez, the fact Gravenberch's double pivot partner Alexis Mac Allister is lacking sharpness and a particularly wayward showing from Ibrahima Konate, and it's evident why a rearguard that has already conceded as many top-flight goals as in the first seven games of last term is far from at an optimum level.
Arguably not since 1999 - when centre-back pairing Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz were among a raft of new arrivals - have Liverpool's defensive options undergone such a summer revolution.
The change continued on Friday with the signing of 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma in an initial £26 million move, while talks are ongoing with Crystal Palace over a deal for England international Marc Guehi in the region of £35m.
There is little time to dwell on matters. Liverpool travel to Newcastle United and entertain Arsenal in their next two games before the transfer window closes, and Van Dijk believes the Reds should not become distracted by the possibility of further reinforcements.
“You can say you have to accelerate it, but that is down to the market," says the Holland international. "We have to focus on what's here and now; we know Newcastle will be a big challenge because of how they play at St James' Park, it's intense.
Content Image
Content Image
"We've played there many years and it's never been easy. It's their first home game of the season as well, so we have to be spot on. We have eight days for that and we have to be ready for a fight."
That Liverpool head to Newcastle with a first win under their belts was largely down to the intervention from the bench of Federico Chiesa, who scored the game-changing third two minutes from the end of normal time.
It was the Italian's first Premier League goal almost a year after arriving from Juventus. And Van Dijk says: "That Fede scored to make it 3-2 is down to his hard work. Fede is an amazing character, he works so hard and has been having a not nice time with injuries.
"But we are all here for him and we all know what kind of impact he could have and I'm very pleased for him he scored to make it 3-2.
“If you play for Liverpool I think you have a lot of qualities. We all love him, I think everyone can see that, and he's loved by the fans, and to produce moments like he has is something we all want to see."
The evening was also the first competitive fixture at Anfield since the death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car crash last month, with a number of tributes in memory of the duo.
And Van Dijk admits: "It was very difficult. Obviously Liverpool is special, like everyone knows, the way everything was handled – and I have to give credit to Bournemouth fans as well.
"I'm glad we could do this as a club and the Premier League is doing it as a whole. It was always going to be emotional; to handle it and then switch quickly on."