Richard Keys has revealed live on BeIN Sport that Liverpool could be without Virgil van Dijk for up to eight months.
The powerful Reds centre-back lasted only 11 minutes of this afternoon’s 2-2 draw away to Everton.
Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford raced off his line and lunged into the Liverpool defender – who had one foot planted on the ground – and the broadcaster claims that BeIN Sport has been told that Van Dijk has suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage.
He said, midway through Arsenal’s clash at Manchester City: “The information we are receiving is that he’s done his anterior cruciate ligament and if that is the case – well I say he’s done, with the incident with Jordan Pickford – and he will miss seven to eight months if that is the case.”
This is absolutely disastrous news for Liverpool, if – and it’s a big IF – it’s true.
You could argue that Jurgen Klopp already needed another centre-back after Dejan Lovren left during the summer, but none was signed.
And that gamble will have backfired in a huge way if it does transpire that they’ll be without best defender – who placed second in the Ballon d’Or stakes last year – for most of the season.
It’s been a lukewarm defence of their title so far, with Klopp’s side dropping four points already, but things could get much worse without Van Dijk back there until next year.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
