Roberto Firmino has revealed how hard it is to play against new Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk, describing him as “really high quality”.
Van Dijk made history when he signed for the Reds’ from Southampton for £75million last week. With Liverpool’s front line so destructive, the club needed most to shore up the backline, and van Dijk will help lift pressure off of other defensive shoulders.
Roberto Firmino found it hard to get past the Saints defence when Van Dijk was playing and this was very evident in last season’s EFL Cup Semi-Final 1st and 2nd leg, with Southampton winning 2-0 on aggregate to progress to the final.
Talking about the new signing, Firmino told the Liverpool website;
He’s a really, really good defender. It’s always really hard playing against him. It’s very hard, he marks very tightly and I just think he’s a really, really high-quality player.
I think in addition to the fact he’s very physical, it’s his presence. He’s tall, he’s very strong and that’s in addition to his innate ability.
Firmino also went on to comment on how happy he is that Van Dijk has signed for Liverpool, saying;
I think like everybody else who comes in, they add something to the group and I hope that he can also do that and bring something to the team himself. I’m really looking forward to playing alongside him, of course.
It is possible that Van Dijk could make his Liverpool debut against Everton in the FA Cup Merseyside derby on Friday night. However, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp remained undecided on Van Dijk’s inclusion. He said;
He’s healthy and now I have to make a decision for this game. It’s not finally done, yet. We will see what we do with him.
