Virgil van Dijk’s injury return: will he be fit for Liverpool’s season opener and what he’ll bring to Reds

The colossal centre-back hasn’t played a competitive match for more than nine months but is coming towards the end of his rehabilitation period.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is closing in on a competitive comeback.Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is closing in on a competitive comeback.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is closing in on a competitive comeback.

Virgil van Dijk is closing in on his return to full fitness.

The Liverpool centre-back hasn’t played a competitive game since suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament against Everton last October.

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However, Van Dijk made his initial comeback during pre-season and now all eyes are trained on when he’ll be available for selection in the upcoming 2021-22 campaign.

At a glance: 5 key points

- Van Dijk played every minute of Liverpool’s Premier League title-winning campaign in 2019-20.

- He helped the Reds claim the best defensive record in the league for two years running but was injured just five games into last season and has not played since.

- Liverpool paid a club-record fee of £75 million to prise him away from Southampton in January 2018.

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- Van Dijk had an immediate effect at Liverpool, scoring the winner against Everton on his debut and scooping the Champions League in his first full season.

- He’s been named in the PFA Team of the Year twice, while he finished runner-up in the Ballon d’Or to Lionel Messi in 2019.

What Van Dijk said

Van Dijk recently gave an update to Liverpool’s official website regarding his fitness.

He said: “I’m doing well. It’s obviously been a tough pre-season, coming back from such a long time to be playing and training with the boys again is a big thing.

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“There are obviously plenty of things to improve still and to get back to full fitness but to get out there again gave me so much confidence. I am just ready to crack on, to push on again.”

How did Van Dijk’s injury occur?

Just six minutes into the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park last season, the defender was on the wrong end of a clumsy challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Somehow, the Reds were not awarded a penalty for the tackle and Pickford avoided a red card. In fact, Everton were given a freekick after VAR had a look at the incident and judged Van Dijk to be offside before the foul was committed.

Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for the rest of the season following a bad challenge from Everton’s Jordan Pickford last October. Picture: Laurence Griffiths/Getty ImagesLiverpool’s Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for the rest of the season following a bad challenge from Everton’s Jordan Pickford last October. Picture: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for the rest of the season following a bad challenge from Everton’s Jordan Pickford last October. Picture: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

However, it was the Netherlands captain who was left counting the costs of the collision.

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Early fears he’d be out for a significant period of time when he limped off the pitch were confirmed by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp following the 2-2 draw.

Klopp admitted Van Dijk’s injury didn’t look good and further tests proved that to be the case. The ex-Southampton centre-half required surgery.

The Reds would spend the rest of the campaign without the colossal defender.

How long was he sidelined for?

Van Dijk was out of action for a total of 285 days.

He endured a long and arduous recovery process and could only look on as Liverpool’s Premier League title defence faltered.

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With defender Joe Gomez suffering a long-term knee injury while on England duty and Joel Matip’s campaign being curtailed in February due to an ankle setback, Klopp’s side were left threadbare at centre-back at times last term.

The Reds bolstered the squad by signing two centre-backs - Ozan Kaback (loan) and Ben Davies - in the winter transfer window but the defensive weakness ultimately proved their downfall.

When did van Dijk make his return to action?

The Netherlands international made his much anticipated comeback in a pre-season friendly against Hertha Berlin in France last month.

Van Dijk, along with Gomez, was introduced in the 69th minute of the 4-3 defeat to the German outfit.

Joe Gomez has also been absent with a long-term knee injury. (Getty Images)Joe Gomez has also been absent with a long-term knee injury. (Getty Images)
Joe Gomez has also been absent with a long-term knee injury. (Getty Images)
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He’s also picked up more game time against Bologna and Athletic Bilbao ahead of Liverpool’s 2021-22 curtain-raiser at Norwich on Saturday, August 14.

Will he play against Norwich on the opening day of the season?

A fully fit Van Dijk will always be the first name on the team sheet.

But the fact he started against Bologna and Athletic Bilbao suggests he’s in Klopp’s plans to feature from the outset at Carrow Road.

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Van Dijk has progressively been stepping up his comeback and featured for 70 minutes in the Anfield encounter against Bilbao.

Should Klopp decide to put the skids on the defender’s recovery, the Reds are well stocked to face the newly-promoted Canaries.

Matip has recovered from his setback and started alongside Van Dijk in the past two games. He looks set to start at Norwich.

Gomez, meanwhile, has also been coming along nicely after his long-term absence and Liverpool shelled out £36 million for Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig earlier this summer.

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Klopp also has Nat Phillips, Rhys Williams and Davies as back-up, while Fabinho is capable of operating as a makeshift centre-back if required.

The Reds have ample options, which means they can be patient as Van Dijk works his way back.

How important will it be when Van Dijk is back to full fitness?

Liverpool smashed their transfer record to sign Van Dijk - and every penny of the £75 million spent has been justified.

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The fact the Reds claimed the Champions League and Premier League after the defender arrived was no coincidence. He was a major influence behind those triumphs.

Virgil van Dijk, right, celebrates Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph in 2020 with Joe Gomez, left and Gini Wijnaldum. Picture: Phil Noble/ Getty ImagesVirgil van Dijk, right, celebrates Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph in 2020 with Joe Gomez, left and Gini Wijnaldum. Picture: Phil Noble/ Getty Images
Virgil van Dijk, right, celebrates Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph in 2020 with Joe Gomez, left and Gini Wijnaldum. Picture: Phil Noble/ Getty Images

And his absence was perhaps an even bigger reason why Klopp’s men were forced to hand the Premier League back to Manchester City in meek fashion last season.

Van Dijk has proven himself as one of the world’s best central defenders. Finishing second to Lionel Messi in the Ballon d’Or in 2019 - and ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo - speaks volumes about his quality.

There is hardly a weakness to his game. He reads play expertly, is not short of pace, dominant in the air and is an attacking threat from set-pieces.

If Liverpool can keep Van Dijk fit, it will be an almighty fillip to their latest bid for silverware.