It was a bittersweet night for Liverpool on Thursday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side slumped to a 4-3 defeat by Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin in Austria.
And although it was only a friendly, the manner of the goals Liverpool conceded will concern the German coach.
That being said, there were two massive positives in the form of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
Both made their long-awaited returns after being out injured since October with serious knee injuries.
With the Premier League returning in a couple of weeks, it’s perfect timing for Liverpool.
And even Hertha acknowledged Van Dijk’s return on Twitter:
Ominous
It’s a classy message but one that many Premier League clubs might not share.
Okay most – if not all – of them will be happy to see Van Dijk available again on a human level, because he’s a brilliant footballer and one who placed second in the Ballon d’Or stakes a couple of years back.
But that’s also why Liverpool’s rivals won’t be that chuffed to see him return, because Klopp’s side are simply a different proposition when he’s fit.
The Reds endured a pretty poor Premier League title defence last season in the absence of their big Dutchman and Gomez.
But with both back, it is quite possible that Liverpool will reclaim their crown from Manchester City come next May.
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