Virgil van Dijk Challenges Liverpool to Improve After Unacceptable Season

Virgil van Dijk has laid down a blunt challenge to Liverpool – last season was “unacceptable” and there can be no repeat as a new era beds in under Andoni Iraola.

Writing in the official matchday programme before the visit of Nottingham Forest, the Liverpool captain stripped away any excuses and demanded a response from a squad he insists is capable of far more.

“At Liverpool, that should always be the aim”

Liverpool are still searching for their first home win under Iraola after a breathless 2-2 draw at Newcastle United last Sunday, a game that showcased both their flaws and their fight.

“We want to win, ultimately. At Liverpool, that should always be the aim,” Van Dijk wrote, as reported by the Liverpool Echo. “You don't need me to tell you that last season was tough, unacceptable in my opinion. We are better than that, much better in fact, and now we need to show it.”

The message was clear: the standards haven’t shifted, even if the style of play has.

New ideas, no excuses

Iraola’s arrival has triggered a significant tactical shift, with Liverpool trying to reshape their approach on and off the ball. Van Dijk knows such change does not instantly click, but he made it equally clear that patience has its limits at Anfield.

“When you have a new coach with new plans and new ideas, it is always going to take a bit of time to put those into practice,” he said. “But it is down to us to do that as quickly as we can.

“I can tell you that we are working extremely hard every day on the training ground, because we all want to improve, we want to be better and more consistent.”

The captain’s words mirror the mood around the club: transition, yes. Transition as an alibi, no.

Character at St James’ Park

If the opening draw at St James’ Park exposed defensive issues, it also offered a glimpse of the mentality Van Dijk wants to bottle.

Liverpool twice came from behind against Newcastle, digging out a point in a stadium that rarely forgives slow starts.

“Like I say, we showed some good things against Newcastle,” Van Dijk added. “St. James' Park is always a tough place to go, and though obviously we were not happy with the goals we conceded, I think we showed good character to twice come back and we worked extremely hard as a team to take something from the game.

“It wasn't a victory, which is what we wanted of course, but it was a deserved point in my opinion, and we take that and move on.”

Not a celebration, then. More a platform.

Forest test comes early

Next comes a sharper examination of Liverpool’s growing pains. Nottingham Forest arrive at Anfield on Saturday chasing a third straight league win, carrying momentum and confidence into a ground that still expects dominance from the home side, regardless of the opposition’s form.

For Iraola, it is a chance to ignite his tenure in front of the Kop. For Van Dijk and his teammates, it is an early test of whether those strong words can translate into ruthless action.

The message from the captain leaves no room to hide: Liverpool must show they are “much better” – starting now.