Virgil van Dijk lays down fresh challenge to Darwin Nunez after Liverpool striker’s stunning goal in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth
Virgil van Dijk believes keeping a level head will now help Darwin Nunez really take flight at Liverpool after the striker opened his account for the campaign in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth. And the captain thinks Nunez’s price tag means there will always be pressure on him to perform after the big-money forward marked his first start of the season with a stunning strike.
Nunez was given the nod ahead of Diogo Jota at the weekend by head coach Arne Slot and added to Luis Diaz’s quick-fire brace with a superb, left-footed effort that arched past Cherries goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and went in off the post after 37 minutes at Anfield.
The Uruguay international has been made to be patient for his first real opportunity this term but took his chance with a purposeful performance as Slot’s side briefly went top of the Premier League with their fourth win of the campaign.
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Van Dijk says he was impressed with colleague’s leading of the line and understands why the No.9 remains a firm fan favourite at Anfield but the centre-back has also challenged Nunez to continue in the same vein going forward and revealing the initial £64m sum paid to Benfica over two years ago means he is expected to produce the goods regularly.
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“If you want to be successful in different competitions we need a very good squad and now it’s time when we are rotating they have to perform and today showed; Darwin scored a fantastic goal,” Van Dijk said.
“You see the boys who came in after being rested in midweek produced again and that’s what we need, it’s a sign of a very good football team. It’s the start of the season so there’s a lot to happen but it’s a good sign.
“Any striker, on the bench or who has a lack of confidence, works their socks off to be successful. He got a chance to be the starting striker today and he worked very hard for that goal.
“He scored a very good goal but he worked hard defensively when we didn’t have the ball and those are the things that we need from the whole team, whether you start or coming in.
“For him, coming into a club like Liverpool with the price tag there is always going to be pressure to produce week in, week out and he is trying to do that but it is not always that easy.
“Now it is time for him to stay calm and I think, in my opinion, he has been doing that much better and the manager is busy with him a lot and us as players and we just have to keep him close to us and keep going.
“He started but he might not start the next game and we want him to be consistent and keep doing it and doing it when he comes on and when he starts. That’s the main thing, don’t get dragged into the positivity and then the low of the negativity or you will be dizzy at a certain point.”
The goal was Nunez’s first since April and the latest in a growing catalogue of eye-catching efforts but it is converting the easier opportunities that now needs to become a more regular occurrence, says Van Dijk, who wants to see his team-mate kick on further after launching his season in such an outstanding fashion.
Van Dijk added: “The fans love him but I think anyone here would want us to be successful, that’s absolutely normal. The fans love him for his work-rate, his directness and what he brings to the table and he got a reward for the hard work he did with a good goal but we want him to be consistent and keep doing it and I am confident he will be fine.
“Consistency is the key. I think he shouldn’t get carried away – but he won’t – and now is the time for him to recover and focus on the next opportunity he gets. That’s football. We will help him and the manager will help him and the club and fans as well.”
On Luis Diaz, whose two goals takes him up to five already for the campaign, Liverpool skipper Van Dijk said: “I think confidence helps, rhythm helps. Obviously the quality is there, you saw it last season as well.
“In certain games some moments when it doesn’t go in it will be spoken about more but he showed last year he is a very good and important player for us and has had a good start to the season. I was not worried at all but him scoring goals helps everyone and pushes everyone as well, so that’s the good thing.”
