Liverpool announced on Sunday afternoon that Virgil van Dijk is set for surgery on a knee injury he suffered during Saturday’s match against Everton.
The game ended in a 2-2 draw, with controversy over tackles and the Reds having what they thought was an equalising goal ruled out by VAR in injury time. Quickly after the match, rumours about Van Dijk’s injury started to circulate, and whilst Liverpool haven’t been conclusive on the situation, there’s the worry the defender may not return this season.
As well as causing concern for the Premier League champions, it’s also a big blow for the Netherlands national team, and Van Dijk’s injury is being covered strongly by the Dutch media.
Monday’s edition of De Telegraaf states the European Championship is at risk for the player. This is a huge blow to manager Frank de Boer, especially with Juventus’ Matthijs de Ligt still out after a shoulder operation.
Inevitably, there’s blame sent the way of Everton’s Jordan Pickford, with De Telegraaf saying the goalkeeper was ‘frenzied’ and injured his opponent through a ‘kamikaze act with scissor legs’.
Despite Liverpool not yet confirming it, De Telegraaf state as fact that Van Dijk’s injury is to a cruciate ligament.
