Liverpool news: Virgil van Dijk out until March after what pundit has seen
Virgil van Dijk’s latest injury could end any hope Liverpool have of finishing in the top four.
That’s according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the defender’s latest blow.
Van Dijk, 31, was run ragged by the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa in the first half of Liverpool’s 3-1 away loss at Brentford on Monday (2 January) and was withdrawn at half-time through injury.
According to journalist Paul Joyce (4 January), the defender is now facing a “spell on the sidelines” at Anfield with his hamstring injury “worse than first feared”.
The ex-Southampton star’s performances have come under intense scrutiny this season with Liverpool currently sitting some 16 points adrift of league leaders Arsenal and seven points off the top four.
McManus claims a long-term injury will rule the Reds out of Champions League contention.
“It’s a monumental blow, huge,” McManus told Football Insider‘s Ben Wild.
“Van Dijk hasn’t been at his best this season but we all know what Liverpool are like when he isn’t there. I’m not convinced by Konate, he scored a terrible own goal the other night.
“I think they miss Van Dijk’s leadership. Even if he isn’t playing well, he is organising that defence so everyone knows where they are.
“It’s such a big problem for them because he is irreplaceable. There are replacements in terms of bodies but not in terms of what he provides for Liverpool.”
“I think this could be the end of them getting in the top four.
“If Van Dijk missed even two months, and he might from the looks of it, there won’t be a lot of wins there.”
In other news, Football Insider updates with March announcement on the cards after Liverpool talks in Qatar.