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Virgil van Dijk sends blunt message to Ryan Gravenberch and another 'amazing' Liverpool teammate

Ryan Gravenberch and Virgil van Dijk.
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has outlined how Ryan Gravenberch and Ibrahima Konate can improve even further under the guidance of Arne Slot — sending a message to both not to rest of their laurels despite a positive start in the new era.

"[Gravenberch] is playing with a lot of confidence with and without the ball," Van Dijk told reporters including from Liverpool.com after the Reds' beat Wolves at Molineux. "He has not had a lot of injuries and he is growing into it. He is very important and [Alexis] Mac Allister and [Dominik] Szoboszlai as well. It is a good triangle and they are still growing and learning."

Asked about what advice he would give to fellow countryman Gravenberch in particular, Van Dijk added: "Stay fit, keep going, stay grounded, and don't listen to the praise that much! Just stay calm and play well."

Arne Slot was right with Liverpool warning and sorry Man Utd just proved it 'I only left Everton this summer but I love Arne Slot and would consider signing for Liverpool'

Van Dijk was similarly encouraging to central defensive partner Konate, who made the error that allowed Wolves to level in the second half at Molineux. "We need everyone to be at their best," Van Dijk said.

"Ibou is an amazing, fantastic player who can still be better. He is defensively solid and was a bit unlucky with the goal that we conceded but the qualities he has, he is outstanding.

"He is learning and he is growing, getting better and looking after himself much better, to be ready every three days — and also he has a young player behind him in Jarell [Quansah] who is also a good one, so they keep pushing each other.

"We have a very good squad — a mixture of experience and talent — and players who are at a very good stage of their career. So it is good to see the way we are playing.

"Mo [Salah] was many times in the box and heading balls away and stuff [against Wolves] and that is the kind of commitment we need from everyone. So far, so good. But it is only one game and we all realize that.

Darwin Nunez celebrates with Virgil van Dijk after scoring Liverpool's third against Bournemouth
Darwin Nunez celebrates with Virgil van Dijk after scoring Liverpool's third against Bournemouth -Credit:Getty Images

"December is always a crucial month. The teams who go through that well, winning games and having no injuries, have a big chance to be successful. Let's see."

The Liverpool squad is still getting used to working under Slot rather than former boss Jurgen Klopp. But as Andy Robertson has also detailed, Van Dijk is enjoying the process.

"There are definitely some changes," he said. "I wouldn't say the whole dynamic at the club has changed but it is a different person with different principles. [Slot] doesn't differ that much from Jurgen but he has his own way of what he wants from the team, on and off the pitch. The transition has been quite smooth but we are still learning.

"In possession, especially, we try to find different ways to hurt opponents. We have to be able to sort that on the pitch. It's an interesting challenge but I personally really enjoy it — and the rest of the boys as well — but it is a learning curve. We keep going and at the end of the day, it is all about results.

"So far the results are solid but we are in September. Let's see where we end in the new year. Otherwise it is all about the next game and at the moment, that is the Champions League.

"[Slot] will say what he thinks is necessary and there are times he hasn't been happy with certain moments we lose the ball too easy or maybe we lose our battles or concede a goal. Those things are absolutely normal and we all know we have to accept that to be better. We all want to be better as well so it is normal. I won't expect anything else."