Virgil van Dijk says he had to “step up” his game when he joined Liverpool for £75m in January.
The former Celtic and Southampton centre-back, 26, scored on his debut at Anfield against Everton in the FA Cup.
However, Van Dijk says he has needed time to adapt to Jurgen Klopp’s high-tempo, pressing style of play.
“I am getting used to how we play,” he told Football Focus. “The intensity of our game is a lot higher than what I was used to.”
The Netherlands international added: “Every day here is tough. We work very hard, run a lot and there is a big difference. I needed to step up my game, especially in the beginning. ”
Van Dijk joined the Saints from Celtic for £13m in September 2015.
He had been expected to move to Liverpool last summer after he handed in a transfer request but a move fell through when the Anfield club apologised for making an alleged illegal approach and he was forced to train alone by manager Mauricio Pellegrino.
He returned to first-team action in September and finally joined Liverpool on 1 January for the biggest fee ever paid for a defender.
“People don’t know what really happened,” he said. “I kept my head down and kept playing. I was out for eight months and was just happy to play again.
“I just switched on again after the transfer window in the summer. I didn’t think about anything until I got a phone call from the Southampton board.”
The post ‘I Had To Step Up My Game When I Joined Liverpool’- Virgil van Dijk Speaks After £75m Transfer Move appeared first on Naijaloaded | Nigeria's Most Visited Music & Entertainment Website.
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