Jurgen Klopp has played down the possibility of Virgil van Dijk making a swift return from injury, but says he is progressing well.
Liverpool were dealt a hammer blow back in October, with Van Dijk suffering cruciate ligament damage after a shocking challenge by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
The general consensus is that the Dutchman won’t be available this season, potentially having a hugely negative effect on the Reds’ hopes of securing back-to-back Premier League titles.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Klopp provided an injury on Van Dijk’s situation, saying he won’t be back in miracle time:
He’s as good as you can be in this situation.
Virgil is a very positive person and since he overcame the shock of the actual injury, he is in a really good mood and working hard to get back.
But this is a very long, long-term injury so it was still, I have to say, a crazy challenge which I still don’t understand. I don’t think about it but you ask me and it comes up.
It is a very, very serious injury and it will take time but he makes the steps he can make in the moment.
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It is vital that Liverpool don’t rush Van Dijk back, only looking at the short-term benefits.
The severity of the injury means the 29-year-old must be handled incredibly carefully, being eased back in whenever he is ready.
It could be that Liverpool miss out on title glory this season because of Van Dijk’s influence being missing, but that is a better scenario than bringing him back too soon and winning the league, but hampering the rest of his career because of it.
The Reds just need to keep plugging away without the centre-back, using him as inspiration to get over the finish line.
