Liverpool

Roberto Firmino: 'New Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is high in quality'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 04 January 2018

Forward Roberto Firmino says that Liverpool have signed a "really, really high-quality player" after completing a deal for defender Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino has backed new signing Virgil van Dijk to make an instant impact at Anfield after signing from Southampton.

On January 1, Van Dijk completed his £75m transfer from the Saints and is expected to slot straight into a Liverpool defence which has sometimes struggled since the arrival of Jurgen Klopp.

Firmino has recalled previous tussles with the Netherlands international, and expects the centre-back to have little issue in settling in at the Merseyside giants.

The 26-year-old told the club's official 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.

"I just hope he helps us as much as possible. 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."

Van Dijk is in contention to feature against Everton in the FA Cup third round on Friday night.