Jurgen Klopp has played down Ronald Koeman’s claims that Virgil van Dijk has been playing with broken ribs for the past couple of weeks.
Van Dijk played in Holland’s 3-0 Uefa Nations League win over Germany last week but returned home their friendly tie with Belgium, prompting the Dutch manager to make claims about the defender’s fitness and the club’s treatment of him.
However, Klopp has now rebuffed these claims, with Van Dijk making a return to Liverpool training this week and likely to feature in their game against Huddersfield this weekend.
“You saw when he went off against Southampton,” he said (via the Liverpool Echo). “Virgil would not leave the pitch without major problems. But it’s healed pretty quick, that’s how it is.
“Football players have to play very often with some kind of pain, that’s how it is. We’re all happy if we don’t say anything, but Mr Koeman has something to talk about in his press conference, so that’s good.
“He has no problems with that any more.”
The Van Dijk effect at Anfield
Since joining the club in January, Van Dijk has been an absolute revelation for Liverpool and has gone a long way to plugging the Reds’ previously leaky defence.
This season, Jurgen Klopp’s side have conceded just three goals from their opening eight games, compared to letting in 12 goals at the same point last season.
Van Dijk has been a key component to that record, making more clearances (5.52) and blocks (1.31) than any other central defender at the club in the Premier League this season, as well as forging a formidable partnership with Joe Gomez.
Van Dijk and his Liverpool teammates face Huddersfield Town away in their next game.
The post Klopp reacts to claim Van Dijk has been playing for Liverpool with broken ribs appeared first on Squawka News.
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