Van Dijk demands Liverpool improve after late Newcastle draw

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has demanded an immediate response from the club after Dominik Szoboszlai’s 99th-minute penalty secured a point in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

Liverpool twice had to recover from behind on the opening weekend, with Newcastle United repeatedly exposing defensive weaknesses on the counter-attack. The performance raised concerns that problems which affected the club last season may still remain.

Van Dijk believes new manager Iraola must be given time to implement his methods and shape the squad according to his ideas, but he also stressed that Liverpool must improve quickly.

“It’s absolutely normal in any type of profession, work, whatever you do, if you come in new and you have new plans and new ideas, then it takes a bit of time with new players,” Van Dijk said.

“It’s down to us to do it as soon as we can, as soon as possible, because we want to improve, we want to win, we want to be better. That’s what we are going to try to do.”

Liverpool won their 20th league title under Arne Slot in the 2024-25 season, but their fifth-place finish last term resulted in the manager being dismissed in May.

Van Dijk said the club could not afford to repeat that campaign and described last season’s results as unacceptable.

“We need to show a reaction from last year, that we are much better than last year, because this was very unacceptable,” he said.

The new manager has also encountered difficulties in the transfer market. Mohamed Salah has left Liverpool, while Hugo Ekitike is facing a long-term injury.

Liverpool have recruited Spanish winger Victor Munoz and defenders Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo. Van Dijk expects the club to remain active before the transfer window closes, with supporters hoping further additions can strengthen the squad.

“Everyone wants to see quality arrive regardless, and I fully trust the club and the board to make the right decisions,” he said.

“That’s the only thing I can say, so let’s see what we are going to do.”

The draw at Newcastle United leaves Liverpool searching for their first league victory of the new era under Iraola. Their next opportunity comes at Anfield on Saturday, when they host Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool will be aiming to turn the late escape at St James’ Park into a platform for improvement rather than allowing the defensive shortcomings from last season to continue into the current campaign.