Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is expected to start against Southampton on Friday night after suffering no ill effects from a knock he picked up against Tottenham.
The Dutch international injured his ankle in the final few minutes of the 2-1 win on Sunday but manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that the centre-back has taken part in training this week:
“Yes, it looks quite good. No major concerns, actually, so we have to see until the matchday obviously but after the [Spurs] game you’re probably thinking about Virg. He trained normal, everything OK.”
“Yesterday [Tuesday] we only had a second recovery session but he was involved in that and I heard nothing different that he could maybe not train today. No, it looks all OK.”
Fans are understandably ecstatic that van Dijk will be fit to play against his former club:
Nothing can injure Gods. So not shocked.
— ChielliniLookOut (@chielinilookout) 4 April 2019
annouce clean sheet already
— ? (@firmihoe) 4 April 2019
That’s what I’m talking about ?
— Yousef (@yousefmansourr) 4 April 2019
That is good
— Achama Lawrence (@achama_lawrence) 4 April 2019
The big Dutch is gonna eat his former teammates
— Amar Prasad Dash (@AmarSRKian2) 4 April 2019
Ho-rah!!!
— Mark Law (@Megaprikibalz) 4 April 2019
That is great news.. ??
— Jay (@Jay10867457) 4 April 2019
— ?Debbie van Dijk? (@RedDeb04) 4 April 2019
WATCH HIM DEFENDDDDDDD
— Archie (@Archie_LFC_) 4 April 2019
— SurprisedSadio (@SurprisedSadio) 4 April 2019
The Saints will be a tough proposition and having the Dutchman fit to marshall the defence in a tight game could prove crucial to getting the three points.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side beat Spurs in their last home game and will be keen to extend the gap to the bottom three after moving clear of the relegation places in recent weeks.
Needless to say, for the Reds, a victory is absolutely vital. With Manchester City having gone back top of the table with a win against Cardiff last night, Klopp’s men will want to regain their position at the summit.
