Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk will undergo surgery on a knee injury he sustained in the Merseyside derby on Saturday.
Van Dijk was replaced by Joe Gomez barely 15 minutes into the game following a heavy challenge by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who did not receive any reprimand from the referee.
Liverpool issued a statement on Sunday confirming the defender suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and further assessment on it showed an operation will be necessary.
“Following surgery, Van Dijk will begin a rehabilitation programme with the club’s medical team to enable him to reach full fitness as soon as possible,” the statement read in part.
Van Dijk faces a potentially lengthy spell of time on the sidelines but the club did not give any specific details on that.
“No specific timescale is being placed upon his return to action at this stage.”
The Dutchman also released a statement telling fans that he was focused on his 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 think everything happens for a reason and it’s important to try and keep level-headed whether going through the highs and lows.”
Va Dijk has been a crucial player for Liverpool since he joined the club from Southampton in 2018. He helped the side win the Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup in that time.
English media reported on Monday that Pickford will not face FA disciplinary action for his challenge.
