Jurgen Klopp does not want to know how long Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk is out

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits he does not want to know how long he is going to be without key man Virgil Van Dijk.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

The Holland international faces several months out after damaging an anterior cruciate ligament in last weekend’s Merseyside derby and is awaiting a date for surgery.

Klopp now only has two fit senior centre-backs in Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, with midfielder Fabinho providing cover as he did so impressively in the midweek Champions League victory over Ajax, and has to find solutions to lessen the Dutchman’s absence.

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Liverpool have refused to put a timescale on how long Van Dijk will be out but have not yet ruled him out of the whole season.

“We don’t even want to know it, to be honest. It will take time, that’s clear,” said Klopp.

“In the end, it’s really like this: all people are different and so we should not limit that by saying ‘for him it was that long, for him it was that long’.

“I think it makes sense from a specific moment in the recovery, in the rehab time, that it becomes individual because then everybody copes differently with it and each body. That’s why (there is) no need for (a timeframe).

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“Virgil was here, he’s OK. But about when the surgery will happen and stuff like this, I don’t think it makes sense that we give pretty much a time schedule every day.

“But it will be fine and will happen in an appropriate time. So, that’s it pretty much – he is as good as possible.”

Klopp is hoping for some good news on the injury front ahead of tonight’s visit of Sheffield United with potentially the best being on goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

The Brazil international has missed the last three matches with a shoulder problem sustained in training at the start of this month but appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery, having returned to light training.

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Late fitness checks will also be made on midfield duo Thiago Alcantara (knee) and Naby Keita, and Matip (the latter two with minor knocks) after all three missed the trip to Amsterdam.

“Apart from Ox (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain) and Virg, obviously, and maybe Kostas (Tsimikas), who gets closer and closer but is not at all in contention for this game or the next one,” said the Reds boss when asked about who was available. “All the others, we have to see day by day pretty much. It’s a lot of conversations with the medical department – for who it makes sense, for who it is too early and all these kinds of things.”

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