Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is set to see a specialist after being forced off with a hamstring injury during Monday night’s Premier League defeat away to Brentford
Virgil van Dijk faces time out as the injury he suffered against Brentford is “worse than first feared”.
The Liverpool defender was forced off with a hamstring problem at half-time in Monday’s loss at Brentford, with the Reds trailing 2-0 when Van Dijk was withdrawn during the interval. Jurgen Klopp had been quick to insist that the substitution was only a precaution, although it is now understood that the injury is more serious than initially believed.
According to The Athletic, Van Dijk is now set to see a specialist on Wednesday after a consultation found that the injury was worse than first feared.
Liverpool are now looking to establish the seriousness of the problem and the length of Van Dijk’s recovery, with no time frame currently given.
The news comes after Klopp had admitted he was optimistic following the match, explaining: “Virgil felt a little bit his muscle, but he said he’s fine and he’s a very good judge of these things.
“I didn’t want to take any risk. The physios looked quite happy when I said I didn’t want to take a risk. It’s not an injury, he just felt the intensity.”
However, Van Dijk is now at risk of missing an important run of fixtures for Liverpool, with their FA Cup campaign getting underway on Saturday against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Liverpool also have league matches against Chelsea, Everton and Newcastle United before then end of February. Klopp’s side are also back in Champions League action next month as they face Real Madrid in the round of 16.
Monday’s 3-1 loss to Brentford has left Liverpool sixth in the Premier League and seven points adrift of the top four after 17 matches this season.
Van Dijk’s expected absence ends a run of starting every league match this term, with the second half against Brentford the first league action he has missed in 2022/23.
He also joins a growing list of injuries at Anfield, with Arthur Melo, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota all currently sidelined with long-term lay-offs.
SOURCE: dailystar.co.uk
