Liverpool's new-look defence will take time to gel, says Van Dijk

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Tue, 18 Aug 2026 - 09:23 GMT

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Tue, 18 Aug 2026 - 09:23 GMT

Aug 18 (Reuters) - Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said the club's revamped backline would require some time to click into gear, ​despite describing new signings Ronald Araujo and Jeremy ‌Jacquet as "good players".
 
Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson's departures, as well as Joe Gomez's muscle injury in the club's opening pre-season match, have ​forced Liverpool to rebuild their defence.
 
The Merseyside club ​strengthened their options by signing Uruguay international Ronald Araujo on ⁠a season-long loan from Barcelona, while Frenchman Jeremy Jacquet ​joined the club in the summer after being signed in ​February.
 
 
Araujo and Jacquet both featured in a 2-0 friendly victory over Italian club Como at Anfield on Sunday, with the latter also scoring ​a goal.
 
Asked how he could forge strong partnerships with ​his new teammates, veteran Van Dijk told reporters: "By playing games. I won't ‌say ⁠it's the only way, but games are totally different than training.
 
"Obviously, Jeremy's English is, I would say, a bit better than Ronald, but at the end of the day, ​we all ​pretty good footballers ⁠and we can see and smell some moments, how to defend certain situations.
 
"It's pretty ​clear that you need to form a connection ​together ⁠and take a bit of time. But it's, in my opinion, absolutely normal. But hopefully, we can get that going ⁠as ​quickly as possible."
 
Liverpool, who finished fifth ​last season, will start their Premier League season at Newcastle United on August ​23.
 

 

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