Virgil van Dijk throws down challenge to Liverpool's new-look attack after Mohamed Salah exit

Van Dijk backed Liverpool's new attacking quartet after their 2-0 Brighton win, saying they must prove themselves consistently despite Salah's departure.

Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk praised the club's revamped frontline after a 2-0 victory over Brighton on Sunday, in which Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo started together for the first time. Isak scored his sixth goal in six league matches, assisted by Barcola, while Wirtz's deflected shot opened the scoring.

Van Dijk acknowledged the challenge of replacing Mohamed Salah, who departed in the summer after cutting his contract short. "What Mo has done for so many years as a winger, I don't think anyone can replicate that," the Liverpool captain said. "It is down to these players who are here now to show it every three or four days."

The win moved Liverpool into the Premier League's top four. Their defence has also been strengthened, with on-loan Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo impressing on the right and £60m signing Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes establishing himself as an astute acquisition.