Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk urges Alexander Isak to embrace pressure | OneFootball

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk accepts British record signing Alexander Isak’s transfer fee creates its own pressure but he told the £125million striker to enjoy being the team’s new number nine.

Van Dijk, speaking with a degree of experience having moved to Anfield in January 2018 for a then world-record £75m fee for a defender, said players had no influence over the cost of transfers so it was not a subject for discussion within the dressing room.

“Obviously it comes with the price tag and the price tag we have no control over,” said the Netherlands international.

“I totally understand from the outside world there will always be talk about that and that creates a pressure but it’s down to him. With us, we don’t speak about those things.

“We want to perform, we want to show we have the quality to play on the highest level, to play for Liverpool and in the Champions League, for him to hopefully score a lot of goals and that’s it.

“Just work hard, enjoy being the number nine for Liverpool, be important for the group with goals, assists, link-up play, help others. That is the only thing you can have an influence on.

“Obviously he is a clinical finisher: if you look at his finishing skills, left, right, top corners, he is a complete striker and same you can say for Hugo (Ekitike).

“They are a little bit different but not so much, they are both so comfortable on the ball, both are a handful and it is good they are on my side.”