ANN ARBOR, Michigan -- Virgil van Dijk believes the environment Liverpool have created ensures new signings hit the ground running as he hopes he and his teammates can achieve "something special" this season.
Liverpool have welcomed Naby Keita, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri to their ranks this summer, with the trio impressing in their appearances in the preseason so far.
Alisson, the world's most expensive goalkeeper, is expected to join up with the Reds at the upcoming four-day training camp in Evian, France.
Van Dijk himself settled quickly following his world-record £75 million move from Southampton in January, becoming an integral part of Jurgen Klopp's back line.
Asked why there appears to be a short adaptation time for new recruits at Anfield, the defender told reporters: "I think it's all the players and obviously the manager and the style.
"Everyone around the club, it's all a big family. Everyone can see it from the outside and inside, but it really is. You come in and everyone is good to you and wants to help you and make life easier for you straight away.
"The players we have brought in, I think every one has personality, comes up for themselves. That helps as well. I think Liverpool does a great job. I'm not saying by buying me! I mean like recruiting players at this time.
"I think it's a very exciting time to be a Liverpool player and a Liverpool fan. Hopefully, we are going to do something special, but we are not looking too far ahead. We need to focus on the present, work hard and be humble."
Van Dijk's first season at Liverpool ended in disappointment as Real Madrid secured their 13th European Cup crown with a 3-1 defeat of the Reds in the Champions League final in Kiev.
The centre-back admits it took a couple of weeks to fully get over what happened at the NSC Olimpiyskiy, but could later reflect on what Liverpool had achieved and look ahead to the future.
"I met up with the national team pretty quick so that was a good thing for me personally to get my mind on something else," he said.
"You get reminded by social media, people who you meet on holiday who come and say: 'It's a shame that it went the other way.'
"Sometimes you get reminded but I think after two weeks I was mostly over it and trying to focus on getting rested and being ready for the next season.
"We showed what we are capable of and we need to build on that. We need to take it with us and use it as experience and learn from it.
"We try to achieve something special this year. It's going to be a very hard, tough season but we will see how it goes. We can't look too far ahead. Obviously, everybody in the squad has ambitions. The club has ambitions and we need to just show it on the pitch."
With Netherlands not qualifying for this summer's World Cup, Van Dijk has been part of Liverpool's preseason since the beginning on July 2.
Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren, Alisson and Simon Mignolet were the only Liverpool players still on holiday while the team toured America -- a relatively low number compared to rivals.
It represents a good opportunity for Liverpool to make a solid start to their Premier League campaign, which begins at home to West Ham United on Aug. 12.
"I think we need to get a good start anyway," Van Dijk continued. "I think we need to look at ourselves most of the time and make sure we are more than 100 percent ready for West Ham.
"We have a couple of good games still coming up. It's been tough, everyone's been relaxed, it's hard work. But it's only going to benefit us in the end and make us stronger.
"I think over the last couple of years in the Premier League it's been tight. Anyone can win from anyone and that's the beauty of the game.
"But hopefully we will be consistent this year and that's what we're trying to aim for -- trying to win as many games as possible. Hopefully with a lot of good football but if needed, just get the result."