Virgil van Dijk, who is valued at £90 million (as per Transfermarkt), worried a lot of Liverpool fans after it was reported he missed training this week but the PFA Player of the Year was simply receiving an honour from the Netherlands alongside other high-performing Dutchmen and women.
There’s no reason why he shouldn’t start in Liverpool’s huge clash with Manchester City this weekend, as the Reds look to go nine points clear of Pep Guardiola’s side. Van Dijk, who signed from Southampton in 2017, won the PFA Player of the Year award last year after a stunning season for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
The defender has started this season in similar fashion to the last, averaging a 7.16 for the Reds, who remain unbeaten in the Premier League so far. The former Celtic man joined for a world-record fee but has proved his worth in his two years at Anfield, helping Klopp’s side to successive Champions League finals. Having narrowly missed out last year, Van Dijk will be hoping to push on with Liverpool and win the Premier League title this year.
The Reds can take a big step towards winning the title should they beat Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, so fans were rightly worried when they saw he missed training but will surely be glad to know the Netherlands international is fully fit ahead of this weekend’s clash.
Reaction from Liverpool fans to the Van Dijk news can be seen in the tweets below.
Gave me heart attack there
— Stephen (@LFCStevie04) November 7, 2019
Thank God
— Ajala Solomon (@solomajax) November 7, 2019
My heart skipped a beat..
— Tee-to the-hee (@HapEness_is_yoU) November 7, 2019
Heart skipped a bit for a second there
— ????? ??? (@___Ravenclaw) November 7, 2019
I almost collapsed reading the first sentence
— KopLegend (@legend_kop) November 8, 2019
WHY WOULD YOU START A TWEET IN THAT WAY
— Dom Hayes (@domhayes6) November 7, 2019
Reds fans are clearly relieved to hear that Van Dijk is expected to start against City on Sunday for what is surely their biggest game of the season so far.
What do we think?
Van Dijk’s performances last year rightly established him as one of the best defenders in the world but despite going unbeaten in the league, Liverpool have kept just two clean sheets so far; suggesting that the Dutchman’s form has dropped off slightly. The Reds kept an unbelievable 21 clean sheets last season in the Premier League and fans will be hoping they can regain some of that defensive solidity as they prepare to face Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday.