Liverpool captain calls for calm as transfer hunt continues

Liverpool remain unbeaten on matchday one in the Premier League in each of the last 14 seasons after Dominik Szoboszlai's stoppage-time penalty rescued a 2-2 draw with Newcastle United in Andoni Iraola's first league game in charge.

Van Dijk started alongside summer recruit Jeremy Jacquet at the heart of defence, with Barcelona loanee Ronald Araujo coming on to partner the Dutchman for the final 20 minutes. Vitor Munoz, who was a target for Newcastle before joining Liverpool from Osasuna, came off the bench to win the penalty Szoboszlai converted.

Those three are the only senior additions so far this summer. The Reds are yet to replace Mohamed Salah after his move to Trabzonspor and have been linked with Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola, while a bid for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh was rejected.

"Everyone wants to see quality arrive," Van Dijk said. "I fully trust the club and the board to make the right decisions. That's the only thing I can say. Let's see what they do. Regardless of what happens, we are Liverpool and we have to give everything."

Van Dijk felt there were positives despite an underwhelming performance on Tyneside, with Liverpool registering 27 shots to Newcastle's 13 and winning the expected goals battle 2.98 to 1.58.

"It is so early in the season that if we start panicking about what could have happened today, then we won't be in a good place," he added. "It is down to us to make sure we improve quickly, and that is what we try to do on the training ground."

Neville says Wirtz and Isak need more edge

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville singled out Liverpool's quarter-of-a-billion-pound front two after the draw.

Florian Wirtz was withdrawn just after the hour for Alexis Mac Allister, having created one chance in 63 minutes and contested just four duels. Alexander Isak, a £125m signing from Newcastle, had four shots and contributed 1.09 xG with two big chances but failed to score on his reunion with his former club.

"The big thing for Liverpool is they've got this quarter-of-a-billion-pound front two, Isak and Wirtz, and we've been kind to them," Neville said on the Gary Neville podcast for Sky Sports. "They're going to have to start playing sooner or later, or else they're going to get quite a lot of criticism. For a start, they're too nice, and if you're going to be nice, you'd better be incredible at football."

"I don't see the tenacity in Wirtz, in particular. I just see a nice player moving around the pitch, not really ever looking like he's busting a gut to do anything."

Neville noted Wirtz averaged 9.77 duels contested per 90 in 49 appearances last season but won only 3.96. Among 16 outfielders to play at least 30 times for Liverpool in 2025-26, only Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah, Joe Gomez and Szoboszlai averaged fewer duels won per 90.

Isak was limited to 22 appearances and four goals last term after a leg fracture before Christmas. Neville added: "I've watched them both for 12 months, and I do actually have faith in them. I think Isak's an exceptional player and we've seen it. I've never seen anybody give Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, or Virgil van Dijk, a tougher time than Isak did when he played at Newcastle in a black and white shirt."

"Now Liverpool fans and his team-mates and coaching staff, they need to see that — because that's £125m they've spent on him. And then Wirtz, he needs to sort himself out. Enough is enough now, we've talked about him enough."

Liverpool host Nottingham Forest on Saturday before visiting Ipswich Town the following week.