[ad_1]
Date of publication: Sunday, October 18, 2020 7:38
Liverpool have announced that Virgil van Dijk needs surgery on the knee injury he suffered during Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Everton.
The Dutch center-back damaged his knee ligaments after a reckless challenge from Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after six minutes at Goodison Park.
Van Dijk was able to leave the field, but further evaluation on the injury revealed that an operation will be necessary.
READ MORE: Liverpool fans feel cheated? Everton also have complaints
Reds say without a specific time scale it is placed upon its return to action at this stage.
It’s a nightmare scenario for Liverpool. Van Dijk had not missed a minute of Premier League action since September 2019 and his influence on the team has been instrumental in their winning the Champions League and Premier League over the past two seasons.
The club is more hopeful in the summer with the signing of Thiago Alcantara, who also had a knee scan Saturday night after the high inning that saw Richarlison sent off, not serious.
However, coach Jurgen Klopp now has to consider what life will mean for his team without Van Dijk, 29, for what is expected to be a significant period of time.
The Reds coach opted not to sign a replacement when Dejan Lovren moved to Zenit St. Petersburg in the summer, insisting that midfielder Fabinho could replace him at the rear, and has already done so this season.
But having replaced out-of-form Joe Gomez with Joel Matip, playing their first game since the season opener at Goodison Park, Klopp faces having to match the untested and injury-struggling duo against Ajax in La Liga. of Champions on Wednesday. .
23-year-old Nat Phillips, with only one FA Cup appearance to his name on either side of two loan stints at Stuttgart last season, is now the backup option with Billy Koumetio, 17, highly qualified but not tried. Another alternative.
Liverpool’s defense has already looked weak this season, conceding 13 goals in five games, including seven at Aston Villa, with Van Dijk in the last four, so his absence will raise real questions about his chances of keeping the distance by one. title race.
Klopp, however, was eager to back Gomez after a shaky couple of weeks.
“The set piece (for Everton’s first) was bad luck because Virgil was not on the field, we fixed it in the game but it was the first corner when he was not on the field,” he said.
“Joe Gomez played a sensational game. Good game. I’m not worried about the boys.
“The problem we have at the moment is that I’m not really in a good mood, I have injured players in the dressing room and that’s not good.”
The only thing in Liverpool’s favor would be that no team is defending that well so far and Liverpool’s attacking options are among the best in the league.
Not that it made much of a difference at Goodison Park, where they were tied twice back after three minutes through Sadio Mane and then Mohamed Salah’s 100th goal in 159 games, a brilliant instinctive volley.
Two headers were his downfall, the first from Michael Keane in a corner and then an alluring cross from Lucas Digne that gave Dominic Calvert-Lewin a chance to do what he does best and hang in the air at the far post to overcome. to Andy Robertson and to beat Adrian. .
Liverpool have submitted a request to the Premier League asking for a review of the VAR’s decisions.
They have asked why Pickford’s challenge to Van Dijk was not considered for a red card only because the Dutchman had been ruled offside for a replay and also for an explanation on the mechanics that saw Mane ruled offside on preparing what would have been. a winner of Jordan Henderson in injury time.
[ad_2]