Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has challenged the team to produce a significant improvement after an underwhelming 2025/26 campaign, following the club’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday, August 23, 2026. Van Dijk said Liverpool must respond to last season’s struggles while allowing new manager Andoni Iraola time to establish his methods.
Liverpool twice came from behind against Newcastle before Dominik Szoboszlai converted a 99th-minute penalty to secure a point. The result gave Iraola a draw in his first competitive match in charge, but the performance also exposed defensive problems that troubled the Reds during the previous campaign.
Van Dijk believes the team cannot afford another season at the same level.
“We need to show a reaction from last year, that we are much better than last year.”
The captain also stressed that the squad understands the demands of playing for Liverpool and must improve as quickly as possible.
Liverpool entered the 2025/26 campaign as Premier League champions but ended the season in fifth place with 60 points. The dramatic decline came only one year after the club won its 20th league title under Arne Slot.
Slot was subsequently dismissed, with Iraola taking charge as Liverpool began a new chapter.
The scale of the decline has increased the pressure on the new manager and senior players, particularly Van Dijk, who remains one of the most influential figures in the dressing room.
The previous campaign was also marked by defensive vulnerabilities. Liverpool conceded 53 Premier League goals, 12 more than during their title-winning season, highlighting the extent of the team’s regression.
For Liverpool, the challenge now extends beyond simply improving their league position. The club must restore consistency, defensive organisation and the intensity expected from a team competing for major honours.
Van Dijk acknowledged that Liverpool’s transition under Iraola will require patience.
The Spanish coach has inherited a squad that has undergone significant changes, while several players have also had limited preparation following international commitments and injuries. Liverpool’s new-look defence has particularly required time to develop understanding, with Ronald Araujo arriving on loan from Barcelona and Jeremy Jacquet joining the club.
Van Dijk said adjustments are inevitable when a new manager introduces different tactics and works with new players. However, he insisted that Liverpool cannot use the transition as an excuse for another poor campaign.
The Newcastle draw illustrated both sides of the situation: Liverpool showed resilience by recovering twice, but their defensive weaknesses remained visible.
Iraola himself previously warned that Liverpool could not continue allowing their performance levels to drop after pre-season defeats to Leeds United and Monaco.
Another issue facing Iraola is squad depth.
Liverpool have added Victor Muñoz, Jacquet and Araujo, but the club has also lost key personnel, including Mohamed Salah, while Hugo Ekitike faces a long-term injury setback.
Van Dijk has publicly backed the club’s decision-making while acknowledging that supporters expect further quality to arrive before the transfer window closes.
Reports have linked Liverpool with Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, while Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh has also been the subject of reported interest.
The captain’s position reflects the balance Liverpool must strike: Iraola needs time to build his team, but the club also faces immediate expectations after a dramatic fall from champions to fifth place.
- Defensive stability: Liverpool must reduce the spaces opponents exploit on transitions.
- Squad depth: Iraola needs sufficient quality to compete across multiple competitions.
- Consistency: The team must maintain intensity throughout matches.
- Adaptation: New players and tactical ideas need to develop quickly.
- Response to last season: Liverpool must demonstrate that the previous campaign was an exception rather than the beginning of a longer decline.
The 2-2 draw at Newcastle offered Liverpool both encouragement and concern.
Szoboszlai’s late penalty prevented a defeat, while Liverpool demonstrated the determination Van Dijk wants to see from his teammates. However, Newcastle repeatedly exposed weaknesses on the counter-attack, underlining the defensive work still required under Iraola.
The result means Liverpool have started the new Premier League campaign without a win, although the season remains at its earliest stage.
For Van Dijk, the priority is clear: Liverpool must show that the disappointing 2025/26 season was not a reflection of their true standard.
Liverpool’s immediate task is to translate their captain’s message into performances on the pitch. Iraola will need to improve Liverpool’s defensive structure while maintaining the attacking energy associated with his football.
The club’s remaining transfer activity could also shape the team’s prospects, particularly if Liverpool strengthen areas where depth remains limited.
Van Dijk’s comments therefore carry significance beyond a routine pre-season assessment. As Liverpool’s captain, his demand for a stronger response places responsibility on the entire squad while also signalling that the players recognise how far their standards dropped last season.
Liverpool have already shown resilience in their first competitive fixture. The bigger test will be whether that resilience develops into consistency and whether Iraola can turn a squad in transition into a team capable of challenging at the top of the Premier League.
