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Virgil van Dijk believes he can strike up a commanding centre-back partnership with Liverpool youngster Joe Gomez.

With Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan all sidelined by injury, Gomez started Sunday's 4-0 Premier League triumph over West Ham alongside the £75million Dutch defender.

The 21-year-old England international, who missed the end of last season following ankle surgery, grasped his opportunity and Van Dijk says he had great confidence in Gomez's ability to deliver.

“I was not really worried to be fair,” he said.

“I’ve played a couple of games pre-season with Joe at centre back and I have a very good relationship with him, a very good understanding outside of the pitch as well. That helps and hopefully we can build something.

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“We need everyone in the squad. Everyone needs to be ready when we need you to stand there. It’s very important at our club.”

Sunday was Liverpool's sixth successive home league clean sheet and Jurgen Klopp's side haven't conceded in the Premier League at Anfield since February.

With new No 1 Alisson Becker on board, Van Dijk is hopeful that Jurgen Klopp's side will be as consistently impressive defensively as they are going forward this season.

Asked how the £65million shot-stopper has settled in, Van Dijk said: “Very good. We speak a lot. He’s very vocal and that helps.

(Image: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

“It helps me and everyone in the backline. I think his presence is very good as well.

“He has a lot of qualities on the ball that helps us playing. We’ve worked on it the whole pre-season and we’ll keep building and practising. There’s still a lot to do.

“West Ham was just one game. We can do a lot better in certain moments and it’s just the start. We're trying to build something.”

Liverpool's biggest opening day win at Anfield since 1932 has added to the buzz around the club following a summer of optimism.

Liverpool look well equipped to mount a serious Premier League title challenge.

Van Dijk shares that sense of excitement at what 2018/19 could bring and insists there's no danger of sky-high expectation levels weighing heavily on the players' shoulders.

"The most important thing is that we look at ourselves. We know that right now we have a great squad," he added.

"We have a lot of quality players. Everyone who plays for Liverpool has a lot of quality. It’s all about being consistent.

(Image: ISABELLA BONOTTO/AFP/Getty Images)

"Of course we want to challenge but I do not feel any kind of pressure. We play every game to win - that’s how our mind-set is.

"It was a very good performance against West Ham, almost complete. Good goals, maybe we should have scored a few more. Clean sheet, we kept it tight.

"Our focus was good and now we'll recover. On Wednesday we'll start focusing on Crystal Palace, which is going to be a very tough game.”