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Publication date: Monday, October 19, 2020 7:52 AM
Liverpool face the prospect of being without Virgil van Dijk for several months after their key defense was confirmed to require knee surgery, but they are reluctant to rule him out for the season.
The news of the 29-year-old’s ACL injury, sustained in a controversial challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in a 2-2 draw in Saturday’s Merseyside derby, is the scene of a nightmare for the Reds.
“After the surgery, Van Dijk will start a rehabilitation program with the club’s medical team so that he can reach maximum fitness as soon as possible.” a club statement said.
READ MORE: Everton 2-2 Liverpool: 16 conclusions about a classic
The injury not only robs them of one of their most influential players for most of the Premier League title defense, it also leaves Liverpool with just two senior center-backs in Joel Matip, who has been plagued with nagging injuries himself. himself, and Joe. Gomez.
Jurgen Klopp chose not to replace Dejan Lovren when he left for Zenit St. Petersburg in the summer and was content to gamble on using midfielder Fabinho as cover.
The damage suffered in his clash with Pickford, for which the Everton goalkeeper escaped punishment because VAR official David Coote missed the tackle after missing the Dutch captain’s offside in preparation, makes Van Dijk needed to be operated.
However, club sources are unwilling to cancel his season for the time being, considering the player’s excellent physical record, and are hopeful that he will still be able to participate in the campaign at some point.
Van Dijk issued a statement Sunday night in which he vowed to come back stronger than ever.
“This afternoon I met with a lead consultant to begin the process of planning the finer details of my rehabilitation after yesterday’s incident,” he posted on Twitter.
“Now I am fully focused on my recovery and will do my best to get back as quickly as possible.
“Despite the obvious disappointment, I firmly believe that within the hardships lies the opportunity and with God’s help I will make sure I come back better, fitter and stronger than ever.
“In football, as in life, I think that everything happens for a reason and it is important to try to stay calm, whether you go through the ups or downs. With the support of my wife, my children, my family and everyone in Liverpool, I am ready for the challenge that lies ahead.
“I would like to thank everyone for the messages of support, it has meant a great deal to me and my family, and now I will do my best to support my teammates in whatever way I can before a few weeks ahead while I take my own recovery day by day. I’ll be right back.”
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