But the Dutch defender wasn’t surprised his new Liverpool boss made the decision to rest him against Huddersfield – after revealing that his big money fee doesn’t guarantee him an automatic starting position.
Van Dijk believes that he still has a lot to prove and will never take the stance that he can just walk into the team he joined from Southampton.
He said: “I just want to give everything I have and I think I can help the team maybe to achieve a little bit more than what the club is already doing.
“But it doesn’t mean because I was bought for so much money that I am going to play every week. I still need to prove myself.
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I just want to give everything I have and I think I can help the team maybe to achieve a little bit more than what the club is already doing
“We have amazing defenders here – don’t get me wrong about that. I just need to prove myself week-in and week-out and that is what I am going to do.
“My qualities can always bring something extra than others but, like I already said, the rest of the defenders have done extremely well.
“I think Joel Matip is a great defender. There is Joe Gomez coming through the ranks and then Ragnar Klavan, who I know from back in Holland, is doing very well as well.
“So I just want to work hard, show what I can bring to the table and if that is enough to play every week then that is the case.”
