Jurgen Klopp provides positive injury update on Virgil van Dijk

Jurgen Klopp has provided a positive injury update on Virgil van Dijk, who was substituted with a rib injury during Liverpool’s 3-0 victory against Southampton at Anfield yesterday.

The fear around the ground when the Dutchman was forced off the pitch was evident, but Klopp is adamant the injury is nothing serious.

“He had already before the PSG game a bruise on his ribs which is very uncomfortable, and today had another hit there,” said Klopp, as quoted by The Liverpool Echo.

“It’s not cool, but it should not be too serious. He said he couldn’t shout anymore, and that’s obviously 60% less his level!

“He should be absolutely okay, hopefully. I didn’t hear anything different.”

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 07: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Torino at Anfield on August 7, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

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Xherdan Shaqiri, who started his first game for the Reds was substituted at half-time, but Klopp said it was nothing more than a tactical change, rather than any injury concern.

“He is not injured but I wanted to control the game and go back to our normal formation and that helped,” said Klopp.

“It wasn’t easy (to substitute him). It’s my job sometimes to deliver news they don’t want to hear. But he’s a fantastic boy and I explained the substitution to him.

“I said to Shaq at half time that I’d never taken a player off at half time after such an influential half. Usually I don’t explain substitutions at half-time but today that made a bit of sense.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com