Virgil van Dijk has praised Alexander Isak as a ‘full striker’ and revealed that he’s already had conversations together with his new Liverpool teammate.
The 25-year-old joined from Newcastle on switch deadline day for a British document charge of £125mthough a mix of the worldwide break and an absence of match health signifies that he’s but to make his Reds debut.
Sky Sports activities’ Vinny O’Connor has hinted that the Swedish marksman may function for his new membership for the primary time in opposition to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night time, and Arne Slot instructed reporters at the moment (through Liverpool Echo) that there’s ‘undoubtedly an opportunity’ of our quantity 9 enjoying tomorrow.
Van dijk praises ‘full striiker’ isak
Van Dijk additionally addressed the media forward of the Champions League opener, and he was inevitably requested about Isak, revealing that he’s chatted with the brand new signing for the reason that record-breaking switch a fortnight in the past.
The Reds captain stated of the Swede (through Liverpool FC on YouTube): “He’s very keen and the standard has been proven already. Off the pitch, we’ve had conversations. I’ve spoken to him within the worldwide break when all the pieces was sorted.
“Its about getting as match as potential as fast as potential and understanding how we prepare, how we press, set-pieces. It’s been an excellent week for him, so let’s see about tomorrow.”
(Photograph by Molly Darlington/Getty Photographs)
Van Dijk added: “Now we have no management over the worth tag. There’ll all the time be talks about that, and that creates strain, but it surely’s all the way down to him and us that we don’t discuss it.
“He’s a medical finisher – heading, left foot, proper foot, high corners. He’s the whole striker for the time being. You may say the identical for Hugo (Ekitike).”
@farrellkeeling96 🚨 What number of minutes may Alexander Isak get in opposition to Atletico Madrid? Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has recommended the Swede could have some involvement within the Reds’ upcoming Champions League conflict! 🇸🇪 #fyp #lfc #liverpool #isak #alexanderisak ♬ authentic sound – Farrell Keeling
Isak’s Liverpool debut can be eagerly anticipated!
Isak has needed to be affected person in ready for his Liverpool debut, with Slot keen to not rush the striker again into motion prematurely after he didn’t partake in Newcastle’s pre-season or August league video games.
Nonetheless, it now appears doubtless that we are going to get a primary glimpse of him on the pitch for the Reds tomorrow night time, even when it’d most likely come as an alternative moderately than a starter, provided that he’s solely performed 18 minutes of aggressive soccer for the reason that finish of Could.
Solely Mo Salah scored greater than him within the Premier League final time period, and the 25-year-old racked up 62 targets in 109 video games for the Magpies, therefore why LFC needed to smash the British switch document to ultimately prise him away from St James’ Park.
Clearly Isak will want time to develop accustomed to the intricacies of main the road for Liverpool and forging relationships together with his new attacking teammates, but when he can handle that sooner moderately than later, we may have a real game-changer on our arms at centre-forward.
Few gamers’ debuts for the Reds have been as eagerly anticipated as his one. Let’s hope that we’re not ready for much longer for that second, one which could simply be step one in the direction of an illustrious Anfield profession comparable with the legendary forwards that we’ve had in L4 all through the many years.
