Virgil van Dijk acknowledges Liverpool will want high quality reinforcements to reach in the summertime because the rebuild of supervisor Jurgen Klopp’s previously nice workforce continues.
There isn’t any disgrace in struggling a Champions League exit by the hands of Real Madrid, their current European nemeses, however the method through which they surrendered over two legs – a 5-2 defeat at dwelling adopted by a 1-0 loss within the Bernabeu – with out a lot of a combat was regarding for a aspect with such a superb pedigree.
Half-a-dozen gamers’ contracts are coming to an finish in the summertime and, whereas the rejuvenation of the ahead line has already began with the acquisitions of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo within the final 10 months, there’s vital work to do elsewhere.
Midfield is in determined want of an overhaul – Borussia Dortmund’s England worldwide Jude Bellingham stays their prime precedence – whereas defence can be more likely to require consideration both within the coming window or the subsequent.
“Obviously players are going to leave. That’s obviously been announced so we have to, if we want to be where we have been the last five years, we need quality imports, especially with those players leaving,” mentioned defender Van Dijk.
“I think that’s quite obvious but everyone knows that’s going to be very difficult.
“It is going to be very difficult to find the right players but the club has to do their job in this case.
“We still have a lot of games to play for us and we want to be in the Champions League. I think that will also help to attract the best players in the world. Not all the time but it will definitely help.”
Liverpool, nonetheless, must wait to erase the frustration of their European exit.
The worldwide break, having been knocked out of the FA Cup, means they won’t play once more till subsequent month once they make the journey to long-term Premier League rivals Manchester City.
Compressed within the house of some days they need to additionally go to Chelsea earlier than internet hosting leaders Arsenal.
“It’s going to be very defining and that’s something we all know,” mentioned Van Dijk of the forthcoming fixtures.
“It’s been a season that we can’t find the consistency that we have had for the last few years but the only way to get it back is to get it back with each and every game.
“It sounds very simple but it’s the most difficult part of football and the most difficult part of being a footballer is to stay consistent.
“We will give it absolutely everything because I want to play in the Champions League, we all want to play in the Champions League. The fans want to play in the Champions League.
“We are the players on the pitch, we have to perform and we have to show it but we need also our fans.
“They have stuck with us in the good times and we need them probably even more in this time. We will fight and we will see good results also.”
