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Virgil van Dijk feels Liverpool could ‘accelerate’ their improvement by turning back to the transfer market.

The Premier League champions rallied to a late 4-2 win over Bournemouth on Friday which saw several summer additions making their competitive debuts.

But despite the arrivals of Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Giovanni Leoni, the latter hours before the opener, the Reds’ defence was exposed twice by the Cherries..

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Talks over a deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi have yet to deliver a breakthrough with the FA Cup holders maintaining a firm stance on his valuation.

In the absence of further reinforcement, Van Dijk has called on the Anfield backline to tighten up ahead of a double-header with Newcastle and Arsenal later this month.

He said: “You can say you have to accelerate [improvement] but that is down to the market.

“We have to focus on what’s here and now; we know Newcastle will be a big challenge because of how they play at St James’ Park, it’s intense.

“We’ve played there many years and it’s never been easy.

It’s their first home game of the season as well so we have to be spot on.

“I think it was much more improved than the last game but there is still work to do.

“The manager already said we are playing with a right-back (Frimpong) who came from the Bundesliga, is 24 years old and is trying to get used to how we defend.

“We play with Milos who is a very young full-back, very eager and full of energy, who is trying to get used to the way we play.

It needs time, that’s absolutely normal.

“But we also played without our six, Ryan Gravenberch, who missed out.

We have to keep working, that’s the main thing, trying to keep clean sheets.

“We conceded two goals in a transition moment where we have to do better.

“That’s what we have to work on.”

The Liverpool captain also responded to the racist abuse suffered by Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo that overshadowed a victorious start to the campaign.

Referee Anthony Taylor temporarily halted proceedings to relay the complaint to Slot and Andoni Iraola after Semeoyo had reported the incident in the first half.

Merseyside Police later confirmed a 47-year-old man was ejected from the stadium while the club has vowed to fully support the force’s subsequent investigation.

“I’ve had loads of conversations with him about it,” said Van Dijk.

“First and foremost I wanted to know what happened and I’m glad the authorities are dealing with it all, that’s the main thing.

“But we stand with him completely and I think everyone of you here would say the same thing: these things can’t happen.

“So anything he needs for support, I am here for him.

We are all here for him, to be honest but the club as well and they are dealing with it in the right way, I am fully confident about that.

“Especially the authorities have to deal with it now and like I said these things can’t happen, whatsoever.”


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