Already experiencing shaky play in defense, reigning Premier League champions Liverpool faced another major problem over the weekend. Their star center back Virgil Van Dijk tore his ACL and is facing a lengthy break that could rule him out for the remainder of 2020/21 season.
Van Dijk got hurt in a 2-2 draw against crosstown rivals Everton while trying to catch a cross made in the penalty box by Fabinho. At that moment, Everton’s goalie Jordan Pickford left his goal and decided to make a reckless challenge despite the ball being out of the 29-year-old center back’s reach.
Van Dijk immediately went to the ground holding his knee. While he managed to leave the pitch on foot, the tests after the game showed a serious injury that will cause the Netherlands’ defender to go on a forced break.
The initial prognosis is that Virgil Van Dijk will be out of the rest of the season taking in consideration the usual recovery timeline from ACL tear. However, Liverpool insists that they won’t be able to know for sure until after the surgery.
Van Dijk, on the other hand, is determined to return as soon as possible.
“I’m now fully focused on my recovery and will do everything I can to be back as soon as possible,” he wrote on social media on Sunday. “Despite the obvious disappointment, I’m a firm believer that within difficulty lies opportunity, and with God’s help I’m going to make sure I return better.”
Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton in a transfer worth around $97 million in 2018. Since then, he played every minute of the club’s past 74 games in the Premier League.
