Advertisement
Richard Sellers

Jurgen Klopp eases fans' fears over Van Dijk injury

The Liverpool manager also addressed recent criticism of Mohamed Salah.

LIVERPOOL MANAGER JURGEN Klopp has allayed fears over an injury sustained by Virgil van Dijk against Tottenham and expects the defender to face Southampton on Friday.

Van Dijk took a knock during a key moment in Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Anfield, as he was left in a two-on-one situation with Son Heung-min and Moussa Sissoko with the score level on Sunday.

The Netherlands international covered the space to prevent Sissoko passing to Son, allowing the midfielder to enter the penalty area before slicing a left-footed effort well over the crossbar, and the Reds got a winner soon after.

Van Dijk was lauded by fans and pundits alike at full-time, though it soon became apparent he was hurt in the incident, as he walked through the interview areas with an ice pack strapped to his ankle after the game.

But Klopp has no worries about van Dijk’s condition ahead of the defender’s return to former club Southampton.

“Virgil trained yesterday and today, he has trained normally, and I heard nothing different,” Klopp told reporters. “It all looks okay, quite good.”

Klopp went on to applaud van Dijk, who is one of the favourites for the Premier League’s end-of-season individual awards, such has been his impact at Anfield.

And while Klopp knows van Dijk has improved the Reds, he was also keen to stress that the player has benefited from his time at the club.

“He’s so important to us, not only as a player, but as a person,” Klopp said. “I couldn’t say a bad word about him even if I wanted to.

“He’s a brilliant boy, but he knows that you need the boys around you. Defending is team work.

“Yes, he has improved us, and he has improved since he came here as well. He is a different player to when he was at Southampton.

“Champions League quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final help you as a player.”

Klopp also addressed recent criticism of Mohamed Salah, the forward having been accused of poor form during a run of eight matches without a goal, but the manager insisted he has not been a problem.

“People talk about how many games he hasn’t scored in, but he doesn’t seem bothered,” Klopp added.

“It’s about work rate, doing it again and again, and one day the ball will bounce in your direction. We have 79 points – you can’t have that if you have major problems in a season.”

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:

Author
View 7 comments
Close
7 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerry Ivie
    Favourite Gerry Ivie
    Report
    Jun 26th 2023, 10:18 PM

    Here we go , 4 in a row.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin
    Favourite Kevin
    Report
    Jun 26th 2023, 10:47 PM

    Poor enough game and poor performance from Rovers, but after the intensity of the derby on Friday it is probably excusable. Great 3 points though on the road to title number 21. #mindthegap

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Abdul Abhaile
    Favourite Abdul Abhaile
    Report
    Jun 26th 2023, 10:23 PM

    Derry came for a belly tiddle and went home with their bellies tiddled.
    The defending for the goal was criminal, 4 players around Gaffney but Boyce who’s half his size was the only one who’d tried to get a tackle in. The Derry keeper was poor for the goal as well, too slow to react.
    May as well call the season off, nobody is gonna catch Rovers now.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trevor O'Doinn
    Favourite Trevor O'Doinn
    Report
    Jun 27th 2023, 2:46 AM

    KOH

    4
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel