---
title: "Wijnaldum admits Van Dijk will “go through hell” in injury recovery"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/wijnaldum-admits-van-dijk-will-go-through-hell-in-injury-recovery/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2020-11-10T10:00:11Z"
modified: "2020-11-10T10:00:11Z"
---

# Wijnaldum admits Van Dijk will “go through hell” in injury recovery

Gini Wijnaldum admits [Virgil van Dijk](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2020/10/30/alisson-criticises-pickfords-reckless-tackle-on-van-dijk/) will “go through hell” in his recovery from injury.

Van Dijk suffered a [cruciate ligament injury](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2020/10/18/van-dijk-ruled-out-for-months-with-cruciate-ligament-injury/) last month following a dreadful tackle by Jordan Pickford in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. Liverpool’s star defender is [expected to miss the rest of the season](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/van-dijk-has-successful-operation-on-knee-ligament-injury/7srie9uuzvxe1hvvawppiq8jl#:~:text=Virgil%20van%20Dijk%20has%20undergone,from%20Everton%20goalkeeper%20Jordan%20Pickford.), a major blow to the Reds’ Premier League and Champions League hopes.

Speaking to *[Voetbal International](https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/wijnaldum-dit-is-een-moeilijke-tijd-voor-sterke-virgil)*, Wijnaldum provided an update on his club and international colleague, with three words sadly standing out:

> Virgil will return with God’s will. It is a difficult time for him; this is the worst thing you can experience as a football player.

> You go through hell. But I think he is very strong. We FaceTime every now and then and that is very nice.

### Read Liverpool Verdict

A long-term injury to Van Dijk has been Liverpool’s biggest nightmare ever since he [joined](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42496637) in January 2018, such has been his incredible influence. The Reds’ defence was transformed almost from the moment he arrived and he has now established himself at the [world’s best centre-back](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/van-dijk-best-defender-world-ac-milan-baresi-liverpool/mxzsg1awpgbn1nsfsjxvxc8mb).

Liverpool need to show that they can get by without Van Dijk, however, and the early signs are positive. Jurgen Klopp’s side have [won five and drawn one of their six matches without him](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/virgil-van-dijk/leistungsdaten/spieler/139208), with Joe Gomez in particular upping his game.

To win a league title was special in its own right, but to achieve the feat without Van Dijk for the vast majority of the season would be even more impressive.