Virgil van Dijk has called on Liverpool to bolster their squad in the transfer window ahead of Arne Slot's first season in charge of the club.
The Reds are the only team in Europe's top five leagues yet to make an addition this summer, but the Dutchman believes that the club's hierarchy must reinforce the squad ahead of the new campaign.
The captain believes that the team must be in the strongest possible shape as they return to the Champions League and try to take on Manchester City and Arsenal in the Premier League.
"I am positive. I am confident," he said.
"Obviously I think we should make some signings based on how long the season will go but I think they are working behind the scenes," he added.
"I am fully convinced and trust the club that they will do the right thing for us and get the best possible squad in order to compete in every competition that we are in.
"That is the main thing I am focusing on, having the trust and we will see what happens. I think they are working very hard behind the scenes, we will see how that pans out."
Another thing that the club are believed to be working on behind the scenes is the 33-year-old's contract, which is set to expire next summer but he insisted that there has been no progress on a new deal.
"[Groans to be begin with] There is no changes at the moment."
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Big expectations and bouncing back from setbacks
Asked by VAVEL about his expectations for the new season, the Dutchman confirmed that he holds high hopes for the first campaign under the new head coach and believes that the aim should be to try to win as much as they can.
"If it was me obviously and I have anything to say for it then we go as far as we can for it and that's the aim.
"I have ambitions, we all have ambitions.
"We all want to achieve the best that we can. We're participating in each competition to try and win it.
"It's almost impossible to do that but we are ready for the start of the Premier League and then we hopefully grow into the season and do very well.
"We want to improve, we want to win games and we need everyone at our best and we're going to try and do that."
Reflecting on the way that the last season ended, with a faltering title charge, quarter-final eliminations in the Europa League and FA Cup to Atalanta and Manchester United, the Reds skipper admitted that he is hoping that the squad learns from those setbacks.
He hopes that the team has developed the mental fortitude to put the bad times behind them and make it a season to remember.
"I had three week’s holiday and I would say the first week I went through a lot of emotions, coming off a semi-final loss to England which hurt very much and then obviously you are going to think about the whole year you personally had and also especially how we were as a team with Liverpool.
"I think towards the end we were lacking that experience, lacking the quality, there were some injuries here and there and multiple things that didn’t go our way but hopefully we learn from that and we can take that with us this season and show that consistency in the last part of the season.
"It is much more than playing the games, it is how you deal with it outside the games and the mental part is very important and it is not easy.
"You have to really be focused and work for that. Everyone will reflect on last year, I definitely did and I am looking forward to this season in so many ways and let's see what happens.
"You have to grow into the season first and foremost. I have been back only a week and there have been a lot of meetings and there is alot of information that goes our way over the way we play, so you will find the right moment.
"When the transfer window closes the squad will be there, but so far everyone is working, everyone is improving, everyone is learning each and every day and for me it is quite familiar with what he wants and how we train.
"I kind of enjoy that and want to keep doing it."
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Working with Arne Slot
The veteran defender feels like the new head coach has the squad ready to go into the new season but admits that the opener against Ipswich will be tough.
"So far so good. Obviously a lot of work that we do at the training ground; tactical, physicality as well to get fit.
"Today was the last big test before we start with the real deal and I feel like we're ready for that.
"Hopefully we can show that as well because going there on Saturday, it's going to be tough. Obviously they're a promoted team, 12.30 (start) so we've got a big job on our hands."
Van Dijk is satisfied with the amount of communication between himself and his compatriot, and is particularly impressed with the emphasis on the fine margins that will allow the Reds to have an extra edge competitively.
"We have communication with each other and a lot of tactical meetings where we see what we can improve.
"The finer details are very important in order to improve our game and I think that's what we all want. We all have to show that desire, and so far so good."
Talking about the new system that Slot has attempted to instil in pre-season so far, the 74-cap Netherlands international explained the changes and admitted that there is still some work to do before the squad is fully adapted to the new style.
"I think you can see we focus a lot on the build-up, a lot more responsibility for our centre-backs with and without the ball.
"Obviously our midfielders are important as well and I think we try to create certain patterns on what the opponent does against us.
"I think you can see in the way we play that the moments we have during the game, they are looking good.
"Obviously they still need to be fine-tuned and we still need to be flexible as we were with the goal Lucho scored.
"We tried to play short but when they go man-v-man then you have to think about overplaying that first and second line and then sprint and get the second ball.
So I think we have to find the right balance in that sense but you can clearly see the patterns that we tried to create and the build-up. So far so good and we have to keep doing it."
