Liverpool supporters will have been concerned after seeing Virgil van Dijk drop to the floor with an apparent injury during the Netherlands’ 5-1 win over Sweden on Saturday.
The Reds’ captain did not miss a single minute of Premier League football last season, leading to some concern heading into the World Cup.
Naturally, Van Dijk has been a key player so far, and he largely kept Liverpool teammate Alexander Isak quiet in Houston on Saturday evening.
How does Andoni Iraola get the Netherlands version of Cody Gakpo for Liverpool?
This is not the same player 😭
At one stage, though, the 34-year-old looked like he might have to be taken off with a thigh issue. But while speaking after the game, Van Dijk confirmed that he is fine.
Van Dijk unconcerned by knock against Sweden
It is not often that Van Dijk goes down with an issue. As a result, whenever he does, hearts shoot into mouths for Liverpool supporters.
Though it is obviously a while before the Reds play again, that will have been the same on Saturday, with fans hopeful that Van Dijk may have a shot at lifting the trophy as Netherlands’ captain.
Thankfully, the centre-back seems to be fine, confirming to Voetbal International after the match that he took a ‘strange’ bang to his side but does not think the issue is too bad at all.
“I took a knock to my hip and couldn’t feel my thigh anymore; it was strange,” Van Dijk said. “But I think it’s not too bad.”
Mainstay as he is, it would be a surprise if Van Dijk did not line up for the Netherlands’ final group stage match against Tunisia on Friday morning.
Nevertheless, if the Dutch are looking comfortable during the game, it might be an idea for Ronald Koeman to protect his star defender and take him off ahead of the knockout rounds beginning.
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