Van Dijk
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk warned his team needed to make a major improvement or face exiting the European Championship in Germany, as he suggested they may have overestimated their own qualities.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said the standard of his performances last season slipped below his usual high standards but the centre back thinks he is back to his best this campaign and is "important" to the team's success.
Once a fan favourite who could not put a foot wrong, the 32-year-old was criticised for his performances last term but told reporters he felt he had got the new campaign off to a promising start, despite being sent off at Newcastle United last month.
Liverpool climbed into sixth spot in the table on 39 points, ahead of Fulham on goal difference and with a game in hand, but the home side were forced to work hard on a rainy night at Anfield.
Senegal’s talisman Mane was ruled out of the tournament in Qatar late on Thursday after his team’s doctors re-examined a latest batch of scans of his knee injury, suffered playing in the Bundesliga for new club Bayern Munich earlier this month, and said his recovery could take several months.
Virgil van Dijk has admitted he made a poor start to the season for his club Liverpool and said he feels a heavy burden of responsibility as captain of both club and his country, the Netherlands.
Knee surgery kept Van Dijk sidelined for most of last season and this year's European Championship.
The 30-year-old Dutch international central defender's new deal is reported to tie him to the club till 2025.
Van Dijk had surgery on a knee injury and Klopp had previously said he thought the European tournament would likely come too early for the centre back.
Liverpool are unlikely to sign a central defender in January as cover amid an injury crisis at the Premier League club.
Klopp has said he hopes the club’s young centre backs can step up in the absence of injured regulars as the Premier League champions cope with an injury crisis.
Fabinho has been filling in for Van Dijk in the centre of defence since the Dutchman suffered a serious knee injury.
Liverpool have the quality in their squad to deal with the absence through injury of influential centre back Virgil van Dijk, said skipper Jordan Henderson.
Ancelotti said Pickford’s challenge on Virgil van Dijk was mistimed rather than malicious and that reaction to the incident was over the top.
Klopp is confident defender Virgil van Dijk will come back stronger as the Dutchman undergoes knee surgery and faces a battle to play again this season.
The champions must look to sign a replacement in the January transfer window, former defender Jamie Carragher said.
Virgil Van Dijk fears Liverpool will be forced to celebrate their first English title for 30 years in an empty stadium as a result of coronavirus chaos.
Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk has praised his Egyptian teammate Mohamed Salah, the team's top scorer.
Liverpool moved top of the Premier League standings after beating Brighton and increased the gap to 11 points from second-placed Manchester City and Leicester City.
Liverpool fans celebrated with their defender, Virgil Van Dijk, who won the Men’s player of the year award
