Virgil van Dijk warns new Liverpool defence will need time to settle
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has admitted that forging a solid partnership with new defensive arrivals Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo will take time following a major summer rebuild.
The Anfield club underwent significant restructuring at the back during the off-season.
This overhaul was triggered by Ibrahima Konate’s departure and persistent fitness issues for Joe Gomez and Giovani Leoni.
Integrating the new arrivals
French defender Jacquet finally made his debut in Sunday’s 2-0 friendly victory over Como.
A season-ending injury had delayed the 21-year-old’s first appearance since completing a £60m transfer late in the winter window.
He delivered an impressive 45-minute performance and scored the second goal before making way for Araujo.
The former Barcelona captain also caught the eye after arriving a week ago on a loan deal featuring an option to buy.
Building vital connections
Jacquet is widely expected to start the league opener against Newcastle United at St James’ Park this weekend.
However, the Netherlands skipper stressed that competitive match conditions are essential for developing a genuine understanding.
“I won’t say it’s the only way, but games are totally different than training,” Van Dijk explained.
“Jeremy’s English is a bit better than Ronald’s, but at the end of the day we are all pretty good footballers who can see and smell some moments on how to defend.”
“But it’s pretty clear that you need to form a connection together and that takes a bit of time.”
A new era under Iraola
The upcoming fixture on Tyneside marks the first major test for new head coach Andoni Iraola.
The Spanish tactician is seeking to reinstate the high-tempo pressing style synonymous with Jurgen Klopp, following Arne Slot’s two-year tenure.
To facilitate this aggressive approach, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch have been deployed in deeper midfield roles.
This tactical shift allows recent addition Florian Wirtz to operate further forward as a traditional number 10.
Despite these creative changes, the Reds appear slightly depleted in the attacking areas heading into the new campaign.
The Merseyside outfit will start a season without Mohamed Salah for the first time in nine years, while Hugo Ekitike remains sidelined following Achilles surgery.
Managing match intensity
Iraola previously noted during pre-season that his squad struggled to maintain peak running levels for more than 30 minutes.
Van Dijk, however, offered a pragmatic perspective on the immense physical demands of top-flight football.
“What I see is that no team in world football can play full intensity for 90 minutes,” the defender added.
“Obviously you’re going to have some moments where players get tired and then it’s down to us to make sure we are compact and find the right moment to press again.”
“It’s a team game and we need everyone together in order to be able to do that.”