Klopp Talk: “Hoping For A Miracle” with Van Dijk

Liverpool FC manager Jürgen Klopp has accepted that it’s very unlikely that Virgil van Dijk will play again this season.

The question arose because of squad registration issues - Liverpool had left Van Dijk out of their squad submitted to the Premier League after the first transfer window but needs to resubmit their squad after the double signings of Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak, on loan, on deadline day.

No doctor told me there’s a chance for Virgil to play again this season. I don’t want to say it’s impossible but it’s not likely. I think we have space for Virgil on the Champions League list. If we have space, Virgil will be on the (Premier League) list. If there is no space, we have to make a decision. If he is on the list it is only because we hope for a miracle — that is it.

It’s what everyone expected of course, but Virgil’s seemingly rapid rehabilitation progress had fans clutching on to the hopes of a late-season return. That’s not going to be the case, and the big man will his sights set on making his return for the 21/22 season.