Virgil Van Dijk hails Alexander Isak as “complete striker” | OneFootball

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk (34) has lavished praise on new signing Alexander Isak (25), describing the Sweden international as a “complete striker” capable of transforming the Reds’ attack, as the club prepares for their Champions League game against Atletico Madrid.

Isak, who scored 54 goals in 86 Premier League appearances for Newcastle, joined Liverpool on Deadline Day for a British record £125m. Van Dijk highlighted the 25-year-old’s versatility in front of goal. Speaking to the media and transcribed by Sky Sports, he described Isak as“a clinical finisher.” “You look at his finishing skills, heading, left, right, top corners, he is the complete striker at the moment.”

The Dutch defender also drew comparisons to Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool’s other forward, noting their shared attributes: comfort on the ball, link-up play, pace, and the ability to trouble defenders consistently. “Both are a handful, and that’s good that they are on my side now. Hopefully, they can show that to the opponent in the next year,” Van Dijk said.

Isak’s price tag adds pressure

Acknowledging the pressure that comes with his record transfer fee, Van Dijk remained measured. “It’s not really an addition; it’s a replacement. Players with a lot of quality left us, so we had to replace them. The price tag creates a sort of pressure, but it’s down to him to focus on what he can control, scoring goals, linking up play, assisting the team,” he added.

Van Dijk also stressed the importance of match fitness. Isak has missed pre-season and several competitive matches due to his transfer saga with Newcastle and limited game time with Sweden. “For him, it’s about getting as fit as possible, understanding how we train, how we press, set-pieces. It’s been a good week for him, let’s see,” the Liverpool captain said.

Liverpool will play Atletico Madrid in their Champions League opener on Wednesday.

GFN | Finn Entwistle