Alexander Isak‘s arrival after a summer-long saga delighted Virgil van Dijk and the Liverpool squad, with the striker now tasked with keeping up with Hugo Ekitike.
Isak was left out of the squad for the first game since his £125 million move from Newcastle, but the Swede is expected to play at least 45 minutes this week.
That comes with Liverpool facing Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday and then Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.
It will be an opportunity for Arne Slot to rotate in the centre-forward role after starting Ekitike in each of the first five games of the campaign so far.
And speaking to reporters including the Liverpool Echo‘s Ian Doyle, Van Dijk outlined the challenge now facing Liverpool’s new No. 9.
“Now he’s here, he’s a part of the family and it is time for him to be as fit as he can as quickly as possible,” the captain explained.
“And be important for us with goals, with assists, with link-up play, and with what Hugo has already been showing and doing, pushing each other and bringing us to the next level.”
Despite the players themselves taking a different view to Newcastle fans and the media when it came to Isak’s efforts to leave St James’ Park, the frenzy over him going on strike and forcing an exit could not be ignored.
“I know it was a very difficult time,” Van Dijk, whose own £75 million move to Liverpool from Southampton was delayed a transfer window after complaints of tapping up, continued.
“When negotiations always drag on, it’s never easy. So many things are going on behind the scenes.
“Not only me, but the whole team and everyone connected to the club was very pleased that the deal got done.”
A leader in victory and in defeat.@VirgilvDijk ???#EFL | #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/UG3mQI1QlS
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) March 18, 2025
There are some who feel Van Dijk may have played a bigger role in convincing Isak to join than he is giving off, with their conversation after the Carabao Cup final in March going viral.
Choice words between the future teammates were interpreted in many ways – including Van Dijk potentially urging Isak to join the Premier League champions.
“I’m not telling you!” Van Dijk laughed when asked what was said that day at Wembley.
“Maybe in two years’ time or three years’ time, I will tell you. But not now. I can’t remember!”