Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk undergoes 'successful' surgery on ACL injury

Posted Saturday, October 31, 2020 by Dailystar.co.uk

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has undergone successful surgery on the knee ligament injury he sustained from a Jordan Pickford tackle during the Merseyside derby earlier this month

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is on the road to recovery.

The club have announced that the 29-year-old, who sustained a ligament injury during the Merseyside derby with Everton, will now begin his rehabilitation following successful surgery.

No timeframe has been put on his potential return to action, but the Netherlands international is likely to miss the vast majority of the remaining months of the 2020/21 campaign.

Jurgen Klopp has even stated that he doesn’t want constant updates from the club.

Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk undergoes 'successful' surgery on ACL injury
Liverpool talisman Virgil van Dijk is set for an extended spell on the sidelines (Image: Getty Images)

The official statement reads: “Virgil van Dijk has undergone surgery on the knee ligament injury he sustained earlier this month.

"The Liverpool defender’s planned operation took place in London and was conducted successfully.

"Van Dijk will now immediately focus on the beginning of his rehabilitation with the support of the Reds’ medical department. No timeframe has been placed on the Dutchman’s return to action.”

After Klopp had said: "I can understand that people are interested in that. Virgil was here, he is okay.

"But when it comes to the surgery and stuff, it doesn't make sense for us to give a time schedule. We'll do that at an appropriate time, but he's as good as possible.

"We don't want to know how long he is out for, it will take time for sure. In the end, all people are different so we can't say for him it's that long, for him it's that long.

"It makes sense from a specific moment in the recovery and rehab time.

"Everybody copes differently with it that's why there is no need for an update."

"But when it comes to the surgery and stuff, it doesn't make sense for us to give a time schedule. We'll do that at an appropriate time, but he's as good as possible.

"We don't want to know how long he is out for, it will take time for sure. In the end, all people are different so we can't say for him it's that long, for him it's that long.

"It makes sense from a specific moment in the recovery and rehab time.

"Everybody copes differently with it that's why there is no need for an update."

Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk is now on the road to recovery (Image: Getty Images)

Van Dijk wrote after the tackle: "This afternoon I met with a leading consultant to start the process of planning the finer details of my rehabilitation following the incident yesterday.

"I'm now fully focused on my recovery and will do everything I can to be back as quickly as possible.

"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, fitter and stronger than ever before.

"In football, as in life, I believe everything happens for a reason and it's important to keep level headed whether going through the highs or the lows.”