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It was the news that no Liverpool fan wanted to hear. Virgil van Dijk, the inspirational leader who galvanized Liverpool’s defense, would now miss a significant period of the season due to a ligament injury sustained during the Merseyside derby with Everton.
“A more detailed evaluation of the injury has revealed that an operation will be necessary,” the club said in a statement. “No specific time scale is being set for his return to action at this stage.
“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.”
While fans will focus on the long-term nature of Van Dijk’s injury, there is a short-term concern Liverpool face as they prepare for a busy few weeks. The Reds have five games, three in the Champions League and two in the Premier League, before November 4, and they promise to have fireworks.
It will test Jurgen Klopp’s managerial acumen and will likely define the Reds’ campaign and attempts to retain the Premier League. Klopp has made no secret of his thinking this season, with Liverpool looking to “attack the league” rather than defend their title.
That forward-footed mentality is in keeping with his focus at Anfield, but he will face a tough decision at the heart of the defense. Fabinho was a substitute at center back last season and against Chelsea last month and he performed well. But Joel Matip teamed up with Joe Gomez at Goodison after Van Dijk and it seems likely that English will remain the ever present.
First is a trip to Amsterdam and a game against Ajax. The Dutch giants were the best in the league when their 2019/20 season ended early, and while they have lost several key players over the summer, they should not be taken lightly.
This is followed by a visit from 17th-ranked Sheffield United The Blades enjoyed a fantastic first season in the Premier League, but their start to this season has been defined by just one point from five games. Liverpool are back in action three days later when they host FC Midtjylland at Anfield before a meeting with the unpredictable number West Ham is.
They complete the streak of matches with a Champions League match against Atalanta.
What is interesting about these five teams are the different problems they present. Atalanta will be an interesting test for Liverpool’s full-backs, while West Ham may look for a more direct route to goal. Rhian Brewster’s return to Anfield could bite Klopp again. Meanwhile, Ajax are the kind of team that can show up for a great night in the Champions League.
Klopp has developed an impressively robust system at Anfield, and one of the key tenets of that is a high line that stifles the opposition in its own half. That aspect of their tactic was already a point of contention after their 7-2 loss to Aston Villa, and will no doubt come under scrutiny again in the absence of the club’s best defender.
It would be very easy for Klopp to adapt his style, dropping the defensive line 10-15 yards, and conventional wisdom would advocate this approach. The truth, however, is that the strength is in the continuity, and this group has learned the current style and has become used to it.
Not only does a jarring change require a period of adaptation, but there is also the fact that a coach indicates that the group cannot play this way without Van Dijk, which could affect the confidence of the players.
Liverpool fans may have already prepared for a harrowing season, but Van Dijk’s unexpected absence is something they would not have imagined in their worst nightmares. Always optimistic, Klopp should see this as an opportunity to galvanize his group and bring them together once again.
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