Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has told the club’s official website that it’s ‘unlikely’ that Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez will play at the European Championships this summer.
Van Dijk suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament away at Everton back in October, which all but ruled him out for the season at the time.
The Dutchman has made decent progress, but a return this season still won’t happen, and his absence was compounded by an injury to Gomez too.
Gomez picked up a knee injury of his own in November, which was also seen as being a season-ending blow for the England international.
Liverpool have struggled at centre back since then, and fans can’t wait for Van Dijk and Gomez to return to action – whenever that may be.
Their plans this summer appear to have been ruined too, as Van Dijk and Gomez were set to play for the Netherlands and England respectively, with the European Championships on the horizon.
Now, boss Klopp has admitted that the information he has right now is that neither player will be back for the Euros, just because of their rehabilitation rather than because Liverpool don’t want them to go.
Klopp added that it’s a similar timescale for Joel Matip, even if he isn’t involved in the European Championships, with the three defenders set to return for next season.
“That’s not my decision. But, to be honest, the information I have in the moment [is] it will be unlikely,” said Klopp. “So, not that I don’t let them go because I don’t want to have to do that anyway, but it’s because of the extent of the injury. We all hope that they will be ready to start the pre-season with us. That’s what we hope.”
“And, by the way, with Joel it’s pretty much the same, he’s just not qualified for the Euros but it’s with him the same,” he added.
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