Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp finds criticism of Virgil van Dijk ‘really funny’ whilst the centre-back continues his return from injury. The Dutchman only returned to action last Saturday.
The Reds lost Van Dijk at half-time of their 3-1 defeat at Brentford to a hamstring injury on January 2. It would keep the 31-year-old from featuring in the Anfield outfit’s 3-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion, 0-0 draw to Chelsea and 3-0 loss at Wolves in the Premier League.
Van Dijk also sat out the Merseyside derby as Klopp elected against recalling the defender for Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Everton. But the 54-cap defender returned away to Newcastle United last week. He also started against Real Madrid in their 5-2 Champions League loss.
Liverpool further played Wolves twice and Brighton in the FA Cup without Van Dijk due to his injury. He had been a mainstay of Klopp’s squad this season previous to the issue. The defender started all six of their Champions League group stage ties and 17 league fixtures.
Klopp also kept Van Dijk on the pitch for the full 90 minutes throughout each of the Reds’ Group A encounters. Likewise, Van Dijk played the full 90 minutes in all 16 of the Anfield natives’ league fixtures before visiting Brentford. But his efforts have come in for criticism.
Klopp reacts to criticism of Van Dijk’s injury-impacted performances for Liverpool
Jamie Carragher has suggested ‘I think I’d take his place’ given Van Dijk’s form of late. Ian Wright has also criticised the Netherlands captain’s recent displays. He now thinks whilst watching the centre-half how the Arsenal icon ‘didn’t know you could get by him like that’.
Richard Dunne has urged Klopp to build the Liverpool defence around Ibrahima Konate as Van Dijk is ‘the problem’. The former Aston Villa defender also feels of the Dutchman that ‘you don’t see him intercepting’ or ‘put a tackle in anymore’ and is always blaming others.
Now, Klopp has reacted to the criticism pundits have pointed at Van Dijk for the Liverpool star’s recent performances. The Reds boss concedes injuries have affected his team’s form this season. But the German finds any questions over Van Dijk’s ‘quality’ to be misplaced.
“Our main issue has been injuries,” Klopp has told Sky Sports. “And when you don’t get momentum in a season, you always have to fight against something and with players coming back from injury.
“Right now, we have Virgil van Dijk coming back from a long injury and people start talking about his quality, which is really funny. A lot of the players have similar problems and that’s the thing.”
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