Van Dijk: partnerships are built on game time
Virgil van Dijk has urged calm as Liverpool's new-look defence begins to take shape following the club's final pre-season friendly at Anfield. Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo both featured in the 2-0 victory over Serie A side Como on Sunday, with the skipper making plain that connection and understanding at the back will develop with minutes together rather than overnight.
Jacquet, who joined from Rennes in a deal completed on July 1, made his first appearance of this summer's schedule and caught the eye with a composed, commanding showing that included the second goal, after Cody Gakpo opened the scoring. The France Under-21 international was substituted at half-time, with Araujo — who arrived on loan from Barcelona last week — coming on and displaying a combative presence alongside Van Dijk as the Reds kept just their second clean sheet in five friendlies.
- Final pre-season score: Liverpool 2–0 Como
- Goals: Cody Gakpo and Jeremy Jacquet
- Defensive note: second clean sheet in five friendlies (excluding a behind-closed-doors draw with Como)
Van Dijk praised both newcomers but was clear they will need match practice to cement a mutual understanding.
"I think Jeremy did well, same as Ronald. It's a start, a good start so hopefully he can crack on," Van Dijk said. "[We'll build a relationship] by playing games. I won't say it's the only way, but games are totally different than training."
He also offered a practical assessment of the players' condition: Jacquet came through 45 minutes after a long lay-off, and fatigue is to be expected on a return to competitive action. "I think he came out of it a bit tired, but it's absolutely normal when you're playing your first 45 minutes after such a long time," the captain added, noting the immediate need for recovery ahead of the season opener.
Immediate test at St James' Park
Attention now turns quickly to the Premier League, with Liverpool due to travel to Newcastle United on Sunday for the first competitive fixture. Van Dijk described St James' Park as a consistently difficult venue and set out the simple plan: continue the positive signs from pre-season and accelerate the process of building on-field relationships.
He also touched on communication within the backline. While Jacquet's English is, in his words, a little more advanced than Araujo's, Van Dijk insisted that footballing instincts help bridge any language gaps. "We are all pretty good footballers. We can see and smell some moments on how to defend certain situations," he said, emphasising that familiarity — both verbal and intuitive — comes with playing time together.
The match itself offered encouraging signs for the Liverpool support: a composed defensive display, goals from recognised attacking contributors and a glimpse of a partnership that could form the backbone of the side this season. But the skipper's message was simple and realistic — a composed start is one thing, consistency across competitive fixtures is what will determine success.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pre-season finish | 2–0 win vs Como at Anfield |
| New defenders | Jeremy Jacquet (from Rennes), Ronald Araujo (loan from Barcelona) |
| Next fixture | Premier League trip to Newcastle United (St James' Park) |
For Liverpool supporters, the first competitive test will reveal how quickly the new backline can click under pressure. The club has invested in fresh options and the club captain, speaking at Anfield, made it plain that while the start has promise, the true measure will come when results and defensive cohesion are demanded week in, week out.
