Virgil van Dijk dismisses Alexander Isak claim with first Liverpool impression made

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Alexander Isak is getting up to speed in Liverpool training(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

Virgil van Dijk has insisted that Alexander Isak was a vital signing for Liverpool in the summer transfer window, not a luxury addition.

The defending Premier League champions turned heads over the summer by splashing over £450million on new players.

Isak was the headline arrival, joining for £125m from Newcastle on deadline day, after a long and arduous saga.



They have started the campaign with four straight wins to sit top of the Premier League without the help of Isak.

The Swedish striker is fighting to get to full fitness after barely training over the summer while on strike at Newcastle.

Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s first Champions League game of the season, against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, Van Dijk bristled at the suggestion that Isak was merely an addition to an already stacked squad.

READ MORE:Trent Alexander-Arnold reality clear as Xabi Alonso view on Real Madrid rival speaks volumesREAD MORE:Liverpool drop Alexander Isak debut hint as Arne Slot gets mixed injury news

“It's not really an addition – it's a replacement,” Van Dijk said.

He was left out of the Liverpool squad which clinched a 1-0 win at Burnley on the weekend, with Slot deeming his fitness not up to the requirements yet, but has made the squad to face Atleti and Van Dijk says he has impressed on the training pitch.

Virgil van Dijk is confident Alexander Isak will come good(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Asked what sort of impression Isak had made, the Liverpool captain replied: “Very good.

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