Sport nationVirgil van Dijk, the Liverpool captain, has downplayed the severity of a recent injury he sustained during the Europa League match against Atalanta. Despite dislocating a finger, Van Dijk was able to continue playing and even took to the field against Fulham over the weekend.
In an interview with the Liverpool ECHO, Van Dijk explained that the injury was not as serious as it seemed, stating, “In the first minute against Atalanta, it was pointing in the wrong direction. It’s dislocated, yeah. I did it once before against Norway with Holland. It’s only a finger!”
With the Merseyside derby against Everton coming up on Wednesday, Van Dijk is confident that his side can put together a run of performances and results to maintain their fight for the Premier League title. He emphasized the importance of staying focused and taking responsibility for their preparation, saying, “We had six games to go, and Fulham was a very big one. We showed a reaction after some disappointing games. We did our job, we won. That’s what it’s all about. It was a good performance. Now it’s time to recover. We go again in three days, big game, Merseyside derby.”
Van Dijk acknowledged that Liverpool’s record at Everton under Jürgen Klopp has not been impressive, with only two wins in previous encounters. However, he expressed his determination to change that, stating, “We want to win it. That’s the mindset we always have. They will have that as well. Now we need to recover and take responsibility to be ready for Wednesday. It’s demanding for all of us. But we have that responsibility to do everything in our power to be ready for it.”
The upcoming match against Everton is crucial for Liverpool, as a win would put them four points clear of Manchester City, albeit with City having two games in hand. Van Dijk’s leadership and defensive prowess will be essential in securing a victory and maintaining the pressure on their title rivals.
In other news, Liverpool has been linked with several potential managerial candidates, including Rúben Amorim and Roberto De Zerbi, as Jürgen Klopp’s successor. However, no official announcements have been made, and the focus remains on the current season’s objectives.
On the transfer front, Liverpool has been scouting several exciting prospects, including a $235m transfer trio. However, reports suggest that talks have collapsed over buying a new club.
As the season enters its final stretch, Liverpool fans will be hoping that their team can maintain their momentum and secure a top-four finish, as well as a strong performance in the Europa League. With Van Dijk leading the charge, the Reds will be looking to make a statement in the Merseyside derby and beyond.
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