Virgil van Dijk is the one player Liverpool “cannot replace”, according to Jose Mourinho.
The Dutchman has been a huge loss for the Reds since suffering a cruciate ligament injury away to Everton in October, following a shocking tackle from Jordan Pickford.
Jurgen Klopp’s champions have often managed to get by without Van Dijk, but his absence is catching up with them now and they haven’t won in the Premier League since December 19th.
Liverpool visit Tottenham on Thursday evening looking to end that poor run, and speaking to the media ahead of the game [via football.london], Mourinho outlined Van Dijk’s importance:
You have to compensate with what you have and Liverpool, when you speak about Van Dijk, you cannot replace him.
There are some players you cannot replace. Like when Harry Kane was injured. You cannot replace Harry Kane. You cannot replace Van Dijk. You can only replace Van Dijk with Van Dijk when Van Dijk is back.
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Van Dijk’s injury has every chance of being the defining moment of Liverpool’s season come May, such was the magnitude of his injury.
The 29-year-old has been sensational for the Reds ever since joining in January 2018, outlining his status as the best centre-back in the world.
In a squad littered with world-class players, he is the first name on the team-sheet, when fit, and someone who improves everybody around him – something the truly great footballers do.
Mourinho is right in saying Van Dijk is irreplaceable and the thought of having him available again is hugely exciting.
