Liverpool: "Challenge" - Virgil van Dijk makes Arsenal Premier League admission as Andoni Iraola prepares for Newcastle

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk admitted that his broadside volition find it hard to situation Arsenal contempt the prime successful their squad.

The Reds volition play their archetypal Premier League crippled of the campaign connected Sunday, erstwhile they take connected Newcastle United astatine St James' Park.

Fans are eagerly awaiting the crippled arsenic it volition springiness them the archetypal accidental to measure Andoni Iraola arsenic a manager successful a competitory environment, and it could assistance acceptable expectations for the coming season.

Speaking to MeninBlazers, Van Dijk insisted that his broadside person the prime to situation for the title, but admitted they look a pugnacious task to drawback Arsenal, saying: "As a Liverpool captain, arsenic a Liverpool player, I privation to beryllium challenging for the Premier League title, but you besides person to beryllium realistic.

"We saw however beardown Arsenal were past year. If you look astatine their squad, they look similar they person a bully extent successful their squad arsenic well.

"I consciousness similar we bash person the prime to decidedly situation for the title. But we person to bash overmuch amended than what we did past year."

The Reds finished 5th with 60 points successful 2025-26, 25 points down eventual champions Arsenal, and they volition person to drastically crook their fortunes astir if they are to challenge.

Why Liverpool and Andoni Iraola tin situation for the Premier League

It should beryllium remembered that Iraola's predecessor Arne Slot won the rubric successful his debut play successful 2024-25, truthful portion the Gunners whitethorn beryllium favourites this term, the beingness of a caller look successful the dugout could beryllium a important boost.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur person already mislaid successful 2026-27, with the clubs losing to Hull City and Brentford respectively, and those results whitethorn bespeak that neither are acceptable to situation for archetypal place.

Chelsea are an chartless commodity nether Xabi Alonso, portion Manchester City person looked susceptible successful pre-season without the enactment of Pep Guardiola.

Arsenal bash person the strongest squad of immoderate squad successful the apical flight, but their onslaught is acold from elite fixed they person failed to motion the likes of Morgan Rogers oregon Vinicius Junior, and their violative limitations could outgo them points.

Liverpool transportation news: What bash Reds request earlier deadline day?

Iraola's squad is thin, though helium has expressed assurance successful much players arriving astatine Anfield earlier the closure of the transportation model connected September 1.

The summation of astatine slightest 1 guardant is indispensable considering Mohamed Salah has not yet been replaced, but the exit of Cody Gakpo would permission the Reds successful request of 2 attackers.

Bradley Barcola and Yankuba Minteh person been powerfully linked with the Merseysiders, and they would arguably springiness Iraola the champion onslaught successful the division.

Ronald Araujo has eased concerns successful defence, but nonaccomplishment to regenerate Curtis Jones successful midfield would permission the squad airy successful the mediate of the pitch.