The Liverpool captain said it is on the Swede to keep showing his importance and potential after a difficult first campaign at Anfield
Bookmark popover
Alexander Isak has endured a difficult start to life at Liverpoolopen image in gallery
Alexander Isak has endured a difficult start to life at Liverpool (Reuters)
Your support helps us to tell the story
Read moreSupport Now
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
**Your support makes all the difference.**Read more
Virgil van Dijk said he has no worries about the “outstanding” Alexander Isak despite his tough debut season at Liverpool and his lack of goals.
But the Liverpool captain said their record signing has to score more in the future after finally getting a Premier League goal at Anfield for Arne Slot’s side.
Isak, who cost a British record £125m, has only scored four goals in 21 games for Liverpool, three of them in the Premier League, in an injury-hit campaign.
Van Dijk said: “In terms of what I’ve seen of him everyone knows and sees and experiences as team-mates how outstanding he is. It is about getting games, confidence but obviously scoring goals as a striker – that’s the main trigger for him.
“I’m not worried at all about him whatsoever. We want more than goals from him and that’s what he can bring and he just has to keep going and keep working, keep staying fit and keep staying important for the football club because I think he will and he already is.”
Isak suffered a fractured leg when scoring against Tottenham in December and underwent ankle surgery. His goal in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace was his first in 2026.
Van Dijk hopes to see more goals from the former Newcastle player next season, though he is wary that his Netherlands side face Isak’s Sweden in Houston in June.
Alexander Isak scored his first goal of 2026 on Saturday against Crystal Palaceopen image in gallery
Alexander Isak scored his first goal of 2026 on Saturday against Crystal Palace (Getty)
The defender added: “It is quite an understatement to say he’s had a tough year. He can probably explain it better but the injuries he had and the timing of it has been bad. But now he is fit and we all know what he can bring and he shows it in training and in games as well. It is on him now to keep showing that – hopefully after the World Cup because at the World Cup we play against each other so he can take it a little bit easier then.”
Liverpool’s two most expensive signings ever both scored on Saturday, with Florian Wirtz finding the net in injury time, and Van Dijk feels it is a good sign for the future.
He said: “That was always the plan. These two particular players have been brought to the club to make an impact and it’s not been an easy season for anyone, including those two, but you see the quality they have.”