Tag: Virgil van Dijk

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VIRGIL VAN DIJK, FABINHO AND CURTIS JONES REJOIN LIVERPOOL SQUAD AFTER ISOLATING

Liverpool trio Virgil Van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones all rejoined the squad for training on Christmas Eve after their Covid-19 isolation came to an end.

All three have been out since missing the 3-1 win over Newcastle on December 16 having testing positive but were pictured back with their team-mates.

The postponement of Liverpool’s match on Sunday due to coronavirus issues within the Leeds squad gives those players additional time to get back up to speed before the trip to Leicester on December 28th.

Midfielder Thiago Alcantara is unlikely to feature at the King Power as he remains in isolation, while the knock-on effect of rescheduling the Leeds match means left-back Andy Robertson will now miss the January 2nd clash at Chelsea as he will be serving the final match of his three-game ban for a red card at Tottenham last weekend.

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VIRGIL VAN DIJK SIGNS NEW LONG-TERM CONTRACT WITH LIVERPOOL

Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk hopes to celebrate the signing of his new contract by starting his first match since October at Norwich this weekend.

The 30-year-old Holland captain, who signed for the Reds in December 2017 for a then £75million record fee for a defender, has extended his stay until 2025.

Van Dijk has not featured in a competitive match for 10 months after a challenge by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and ended his season.

However, having completed his rehabilitation he has played in three friendlies with Sunday’s 70-minute outing against Athletic Bilbao the biggest indication yet he is ready to return.

“Unfortunately last season for me personally has been a season to forget, to learn from and take with me,” he told liverpoolfc.com.

“I feel like I am ready for the weekend, so we’ll see what the manager decides.

“It is going to be a totally different atmosphere and mindset for me personally as well.

“It is something we fight for, for the points, and hopefully we can get a positive result out of it.”

Van Dijk has been a key player since his arrival and played a big role in Jurgen Klopp’s side winning the Champions League and Premier League in back-to-back seasons in 2019 and 2020.

He is the fourth senior player to extend his contract in the last couple of weeks after Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho and Alisson Becker all did the same.

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VAN DIJK TO MISS REST OF THE SEASON – KLOPP

Jürgen Klopp today clarified that Virgil van Dijk is unlikely to play again in 2020-21.

The Liverpool No.4 has been sidelined with a knee ligament injury, which required surgery, since mid-October and is undergoing a rehabilitation programme.

At Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, Klopp was asked if Van Dijk will be included in the Reds’ updated Premier League squad list when it is submitted later this week.

“Whatever happens, I think we have space for Virgil on the Champions League list. I think he was on the Premier League list. Nobody told me I have to change something with that. If we have space in the Champions League list then Virgil will be on the list,” said the boss.

“In the moment, I don’t know where these things are coming from – nobody really, no doctor, nobody really told me there’s a chance for Virgil to play in this season again.

“I don’t want to say that’s absolutely impossible but it’s not likely. It’s not likely. We don’t have to discuss these things really.

“If we have space we would put them all on, even when all the medical people tell us there’s no chance. We put them on because we believe in miracles from time to time.

“But if there’s no place then we have to consider these kind of things and say, ‘The chance is not too big so we have to make the decision.’ But if they are on the list then it’s only because we hope for nearly a miracle. That’s it.”

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AHEAD MERSEYSIDE DERBY: RICHARLISON CLAIMS THERE ARE BETTER DEFENDERS THAN VAN DIJK.

Everton striker Richarlison has kickstarted the war of words between the Toffees and Liverpool ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby.

The Brazilian striker believes there are three defenders in world football who are currently superior to the Reds’ Virgil van Dijk.

It’s a bold statement, especially given the fact that the Dutchman was named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year last season and finished second in the 2019 Ballon d’Or rankings.

However, Richarlison still isn’t convinced and says he believes there are three defenders still active in the game who are better than Van Dijk.

We get the feeling there’s a little bit – sorry, enormous amount – of bias here from Everton’s talisman.

“People talk a lot about him [Van Dijk], yes he is a great defender but I’ve already dribbled past him,” Richarlison said in an interview with an English media outfit.

“He was chosen as one of the top three in the world as he had an excellent season. But yes, for me there are better defenders.”

When asked to name the three defenders he believed to be superior to Van Dijk, Richarlison replied: “Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos.”

Two international teammates and a defender who is seen as public enemy number one in the eyes of Liverpool fans? We see what you’re doing, Richarlison.

The debate between Ramos and Van Dijk has been prominent for some time now and to be fair to the Everton man, siding with the Spaniard is fair game.