Van Dijk expressed full confidence in Liverpool’s transfer management this week, adding that the squad is pushing hard in training to reach full fitness quickly.
Well, what to make out of that? Newcastle vs Liverpool never disappoints from an entertainment point of view, and this latest clash was no different. The Magpies led twice and, just as the Toon Army were about to celebrate a famous win, Lewis Hall clipped Víctor Muñoz to the ground.
Referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the penalty spot, and Dominik Szoboszlai lashed the subsequent spot-kick into Lukáš Horníček's top right-hand corner; 2-2 it finished on Tyneside. So now, before Nottingham Forest visit Anfield next Saturday lunchtime, supporters' attention turns back to the transfer window. Will any of Bradley Barcola, Ibrahim Mbaye or Yankuba Minteh, or indeed anybody else, sign for the club this week?
Well, speaking to the assembled media after full time at St James' Park on Sunday, Virgil van Dijk had this to say when asked about the transfer window:
"Everyone wants to see quality arrive regardless. I fully trust the club and the board to make the right decisions. That's the only thing I can say. Let's see what they do. Regardless of what happens, we are Liverpool and we have to give everything"Virgil van Dijk
The 35 year old centre-back seemed quite relaxed about transfer activity. Perhaps this is the right approach to take, considering what does or does not happen is out of his hands. Head coach Andoni Iraola, in contrast, openly stated last week "we don't have enough wingers", also admitting that his squad is "quite thin".
The latter was perhaps underlined by the fact the substitutes bench on Tyneside featured James McConnell, Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas, the latter introduced for his Premier League debut. Turning our attention back to van Dijk, he didn't want to be drawn on transfers, but was happy to discuss standards and his hopes for the campaign ahead.
"For us, we have to show a reaction from last year. We have nothing to prove to the outside world, in my opinion. It is to ourselves. The way we train, the way we approach games, it is down to us to show a reaction. Last year it was very unacceptable, but that was last year. I don't want to talk about that, we are looking forward and looking to improve.Virgil van Dijk
Hopefully next week it will be very close to what Iraola] wants us to do... We do long hours on the training ground and that will only benefit all of us, including our loyal and trusted supporters... It is down to us to make sure we improve quickly. "
The Reds were once again very vulnerable defensively against Newcastle, with both Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock scoring fast counter-attack goals. Well, that is something Iraola will need to fix and fast, otherwise Oliver Glasner's Forest will fancy their chances of a result on Merseyside next weekend. The big question before then remains, will Kopites have a new signing to serenade?
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