Jamie Carragher: 'Virgil van Dijk needs to lose weight'

Former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher has claimed that Virgil van Dijk needs to "lose a bit of weight".

Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton for £75m in the early stages of the January transfer window.

The Netherlands international scored the winning goal against Everton on his debut, but has struggled since.

Indeed, the centre-back was left on the bench for Liverpool's 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night.

Carragher has backed Van Dijk to be a success on Merseyside, but claims that the 26-year-old is currently not in the best of shape.

"I think it will prove to be a great signing. But he hasn't hit the ground running," Carragher told Sky Sports News.

"I think he needs to get fit and lose a bit of weight. He actually looks too big. Maybe that's to do with not having a pre-season, not playing too many games for Southampton."

Liverpool will welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.