Virgil van Dijk in contention for Reds return v Hertha BSCJames Carroll in Austria@James_Carroll84
Jürgen Klopp has confirmed Virgil van Dijk could make his return from long-term injury in Thursday's friendly with Hertha BSC in Innsbruck.
The defender, who hasn’t played since undergoing knee surgery last October, may feature during the fixture against the Bundesliga side at Tivoli Stadion in a game you can watch live on LFCTV GO.
The manager revealed Joe Gomez is also close to returning to action after both players made positive steps forward during their rehabilitation at the Reds’ Austria training camp.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com at the team hotel, Klopp said: “I hope, I am not sure, that there is the opportunity that Virgil could play a few minutes.
“He looks really good in training and maybe we can bring [him in], but I need to have some final conversations. He looks ready and we will see.”
The manager continued: “If you see the games now as part of their rehab training, that makes sense.
“Joey is very close. There is no race between the two of them; they had different injuries and stuff like this, but [he is] very close.
“If Virgil can play now 20 then probably Joey can in the game after. We will see. In training they both look really good.
“I think from time to time there are some pictures of them from training sessions and everyone can see how good it looks, but there is no rush for us. It is not about they now need five pre-season games to be ready for the start or whatever.
“It is a long season and we prepare them after these very, very serious injuries for the rest of their careers and not for the first game of the season.
“Losing a little bit of patience for them to return as a supporter or as a coach even is not bad, it just means they were pretty good and we want them to be back in the team.”
https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/438955-van-dijk-and-gomez-jurgen-klopp-fitness-latest
