“It’s not likely.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said it is unlikely that Virgil Van Dijk will return to action this season.
Van Dijk is currently recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in the Merseyside derby back in October.
Reports circulated recently claiming Van Dijk could be back in the Liverpool side before the end of the season, but Klopp has poured cold water on rumours of an early comeback.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League game against Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday, Klopp said:
“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.”
Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are also out for the season through injury. Liverpool’s injury crisis has seen them deploy youth team products Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams in defence alongside Fabinho – also currently injured – or Jordan Henderson in recent months.
On transfer deadline day, the league title holders announced the arrival of two new central defenders: Ben Davies from Preston and Ozan Kabak from Schalke.
It’s official! 😎@ozankabak4 joins us on loan from @s04 until the end of the season 👊
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 1, 2021
Out of favour attacker Takumi Minamino also joined Southampton on a short term loan.
