According to reports, Virgil Van Dijk has started a slight recovery training, which increases the Liverpool defender's hopes of returning before the end of the season. In a collision with Everton goalkeeper Pickford last month, Van Dijk's anterior cruciate ligament ruptured, and people were worried that he would miss the rest of the season. This blow is just the beginning of the Red Devils' huge injury crisis. Van Dijk’s centre-back partner Joe Gomez ruptured his kneecap tendon in the England game last week and will also face long-term injuries.
Klopp missed several first-team stars as he is preparing for Sunday's game against Premier League leaders Leicester at Anfield. Trent-Alexander Arnold and Mohamed Salah will definitely be absent, and Klopp must replace Andy Robertson, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara after they resume training after recent injuries .
But according to the "Daily Mail" report, Van Dyke resumed low-intensity training after the recent surgery, which gave his coach a great encouragement. After being injured in the Derby game last month, the Dutch star underwent ACL surgery and is currently in the first phase of his recovery. It is not yet known whether his recovery is earlier than planned, but his recovery is good news for Liverpool, as he is preparing for a more intensive recovery in the second round.
Van Dijk and Gomez’s injuries make Joel Matip the club’s only healthy senior central defender, although Manchester United still has 23-year-old Nat Phillips and 19-year-old Rees Williams as his Substitute. Left back Andy Robertson played for Scotland with a hamstring injury in the middle of the week and should be able to play against Leicester on Sunday, while Neko Williams will succeed Alexander Arnold as right back.
Fabinho and Thiago have returned to first-team training this week after recent injuries, and it remains to be seen whether captain Henderson can recover after a muscle problem in the England national team game. Salah will miss Sunday's game after testing positive for the second coronavirus in the Egyptian national team this week.
