VAN DIJK GIVES KLOPP’S TITLE HOPES A LIFT
VIRGILVAN DIJK is on track to make his Liverpool comeback during the title another defensive selection headache run-in. ahead of today’s trip towest Ham. The £75million defender Fabinho is expected to be back for is targeting an April return next Sunday’s mouth-watering clash from the cruciate ligament injury with Manchester City at Anfield. that was expected to sideline him And Klopp will now be striving to for the season after making huge keep his team in touch with the top strides in his recovery. in the next few months in the hope
That’s great news for Kop boss thatvan Dijk will be back to bolster Jurgen Klopp – and the medical his bid for back-to-back titles and staff at the Dutch Football the Champions League in the Federation have been final weeks of the season. confident enough to Meanwhile, Klopp also assure Frank de Boer believes the rollercoaster that his skipper will be Premier League part of Holland’s bid season has added some for Euro 2020 glory much-needed this summer. excitement.
Van Dijk has been A clutch of clubs are working seven days a currently fighting it out week as he steps up his at the top of the table in
WORK: Van Dijk back at it recuperation under his what is proving to be the own team of physiotherapy experts. most widely contested title race in
Most of his rehabilitation has taken years. place at Abu Dhabi’s NAS Sports After a period when teams like Complex in Nad Al Sheba. Liverpool and Manchester City have
But every aspect of his fitness set new standards in terms of programme has to be ratified by collecting points, the German Liverpool’s medical staff first. reckons the
The Dutchman has been able to campaign could be take his first strides on the training in for a thrilling pitch by undergoing running climax. exercises and simple ball work. Klopp (right)
Klopp is desperate for the said: “Man United
29-year-old to return to action as once won it with
Liverpool have been a shadow of the 75 points – so will team that romped to the club’s first this be the most title success in 30 years last season exciting run-in with sincevan Dijk was injured by a tackle different teams? from Everton keeper Jordan Pickford “A lot of teams in the Merseyside derby in October. look good but we all
Joe Gomez is unlikely to return have our ups and downs. until next season after suffering a “But I can imagine serious knee injury on England duty. looking from outside it is
And both Joel Matip and Fabinho really exciting, especially for are also injured – leaving Klopp with the neutral fan.”