Virgil Van Dijk: “We Want More Than Goals From Isak”

The win on Saturday over Crystal Palace was a sigh of aid in additional than methods than one, not least of all together with Alexander Isak’s first objective since coming back from the damaged leg he suffered in December. A striker is a striker for a motive, and the feelings that Isak clearly displayed after the objective confirmed simply how a lot the objective meant to him, and the crew.

The strain of being the most costly switch in English soccer just isn’t worn calmly, both, and when captain Virgil van Dijk spoke to the press following the match, he famous that the striker has obtained numerous assist however there’s nonetheless some expectations for the Swede.

“By way of what I’ve seen of him everybody is aware of and sees and experiences as team-mates how excellent he’s. It’s about getting video games, confidence however clearly scoring targets as a striker – that’s the principle set off for him,” van Dijk stated.

“I’m not apprehensive in any respect about him in any way. We wish greater than targets from him and that’s what he can deliver and he simply has to maintain going and preserve working, preserve staying match and preserve staying necessary for the soccer membership as a result of I believe he’ll and he already is.”

Whereas the late return of Isak underlines what a troublesome yr it’s been for everybody, with that objective being his first in 2026, there’s only some extra matches within the season to maintain constructing on that reference to the squad earlier than everybody breaks for the summer season and the World Cup.

“It’s fairly an understatement to say he’s had a troublesome yr. He can most likely clarify it higher however the accidents he had and the timing of it has been dangerous,” the captain continued.

“However now he’s match and everyone knows what he can deliver and he reveals it in coaching and in video games as nicely. It’s on him now to maintain displaying that – hopefully after the World Cup as a result of on the World Cup we play in opposition to one another so he can take it a bit bit simpler then.”

Van Dijk and the Netherlands squad meet Sweden within the group levels in June, taking part in in the summertime warmth and humidity of Houston, however earlier than that occurs they’ve to verify Liverpool qualify for the Champions League subsequent season.