2 days ago
37
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has been impressed with new signings Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike so far, but says there is still much more to come from the $265 million (£195 million) duo.
In pre-season, the Community Shield and then the first game of the new Premier League season, the attacking pair have shown plenty of promise. Wirtz has looked every inch the silky playmaker that Liverpool wanted to bring in from Bayer Leverkusen, while Ekitike has settled in straight away in the number nine role.
Arriving for a fee that could reach $158 million (£116 million) including add-ons, Wirtz was made Liverpool's record signing this summer. And Van Dijk believes he is already heading in the right direction when it comes to proving good value.
"I think he did well," Van Dijk told reporters after his side's 4-2 win over Bournemouth at Anfield.
"I think he was quite tired towards the end, so that says a lot about the intensity of the Premier League. But I think he is an incredible talent, he is so good on the ball, a great dribbler, he has settled in nicely, and there is a lot to come in my eyes.
"There is still hard work for him to do, but that is part of being a Liverpool player and the pressure that comes with it. But I'm pretty confident he will be absolutely fine."
Likewise, Ekitike has gotten off to a flyer in Liverpool colors. The French forward netted his first competitive goal at Anfield against Bournemouth and then set up Cody Gakpo's goal too.
"[I didn't] know much [about Ekitike] at all [before he arrived at Liverpool]," Van Dijk said. "But I'm glad he scored his second in two games.
"He was also quite tired when he came off — that's also the demand of the Premier League — so he has to keep working to try to stay important. I'm glad he has got off the mark in the Premier League and hopefully there is more to come.
"I think he settled pretty great in the team in general, we all know the life of a striker — you can score and everything is rainbows and sunshine — and you don't, and it's a different world.
"But he just has to keep his head down, scoring and making assists, and be impressive in defending and attacking and see what the season brings for him."
After a summer of transfers, it was ironic, in a sense, that it was Federico Chiesa who scored what proved to be the Liverpool winner. He was the only arrival in a quiet first summer for Arne Slot, and he has had to be patient when it comes to getting chances.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Chiesa finished well to put Liverpool in front again after the Reds had let a two-goal lead slip — and Van Dijk says he deserved that moment for the hard work that he has put in over the last few months.
"Fede is an amazing character," he said. "He works so hard and has been unlucky with injuries and has been having a not nice time with injuries.
"We are all here for him. We all know what kind of impact he could have and I'm very pleased for him that he scored to make it 3-2. He's an incredible character, with qualities which showed today as well.
"If you play for Liverpool, I think you have a lot of qualities. He has been unlucky with injuries, difficult moments for him personally, but we are here for him.
"He's a great character and we all love him, I think everyone can see that, and he's loved by the fans, and to produce moments like he has today is something we all want to see."
English (US) ·