Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has called for patience from Reds fans after his first few performances for the club.
The Dutchman hit the ground running by scoring the winner against Everton in the FA Cup, but has found life a bit trickier since.
Van Dijk played 11 times for Southampton before his move, but still reckons he was off the pace before his move to Anfield.
Manager Jurgen Klopp dropped the big central defender for the win against Huddersfield Town, but brought him back in for the Tottenham Hotspur draw.
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He then conceded the second dubious penalty after Erik Lamela seemed to initial contact with Van Dijk during the dying moments of the game.
Klopp and the rest of the Reds are confident that the 26-year-old will be able to make a massive difference to one of the most problematic areas of the squad.
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Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan can be good but they have their horrendous moments that end up costing the side points.
Van Dijk is the type of classy, ball playing defender that can blend in perfectly with Klopp’s system while also keeping mistakes out of the side.
And if he is given more time to get used to Klopp’s playing style and afforded patience from the terraces he is sure that he’ll make the difference.
“The football we play, the pressing, the different options with players, it is totally different,” Liverpoolfc.com reported that he said.
“So you need time to get used to everything but I am working on it every day together with the team. I am talking with the manager and everyone who can help me out.”
Liverpool take on the defender’s former side on the 11th and need to win if they are going to start to pull away from the top three chasing pack.
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The Saints have been poor this campaign and are in danger of the drop, but they are not a side to be underestimated. Klopp will not want a repeat of the Swansea City fiasco, that’s for sure.