'We all need that': Klopp reacts to Van Dijk's performance vs Wolves

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'We all need that': Klopp reacts to Van Dijk's performance vs Wolves

"Yeah, we all need that and he needs that as well and it’s obviously a really good one, in a tough game for defenders," Jurgen Klopp said when asked how happy he was with Virgil van Dijk after the Wolves win.

"I thought we performed tonight, we played a really good game in general. But I really think the centre-halves and Fabinho together, how they covered that area, how they denied the counter-attacks, how they defended into midfield, which is very important against a team who play with one striker, I thought they did really well.

"In possession, we looked pretty good in a lot of moments, with Harvey, Stefan in the half-spaces, that worked well.

"Up front, we grew into the game; it’s not a game where immediately you create plenty of chances but we grew into the game, all the boys were really involved in all the dangerous stuff, worked extremely hard defensively as well. That’s why you win a football game."

Van Dijk turned out to be a hero at both ends of the pitch, helping Liverpool keep a clean sheet and scoring the match-winning goal in the second half.

There have been a lot of questions about Van Dijk's form this season, and one performance might not be enough to prove the doubters wrong - so here's hoping that Virgil can build on that.

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'I'm not a robot': Van Dijk opens up on his knee injury issues and rehab

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk spoke at length about dealing with his knee injury two years ago and how it has affected him in the long term,

"Obviously I came back from quite a complex injury that I had two years ago now," Van Dijk said.

"That takes treatment, that takes time, it takes getting used to and adaptation. That's what I'm doing and I'm fine with it, that's the way I have to handle myself and I won't say it's always easy but it happens and I try to be ready for each and every game.

"I'd say over the years I've been very much available, for almost every game, and try to hit a very high level and that's what I try to do now as well."

He added: "Coming back from the knee injury, I played all the Premier League games, I think (last season), because everybody wants to be out there, I want to be out there. That's what I'm working hard for.

"What caught up [with me] is that I played too many games at a time. When it's game-day I want to play, I'll do everything possible to play, but I could have also thought before the World Cup: 'Let's rest a little bit in order to be ready'.

"But I didn't because I want to play and I want to be influential for this football club because I love this club and I work each and every day to be successful for this club. But it caught up with me unfortunately, my body, I'm not a robot, and I think going into the World Cup, having the World Cup, and then doing nothing for a week and coming back, it was maybe not the right decision.

“Obviously you come back. If you let your knee and your body settle you get more out of it. After every game you have to make sure you are on top of it, do the right stuff. That's everyone who had a knee injury.

"We can all go back 10 or 15 years ago and it was quite difficult to be playing at the highest level for players who had done this injury which is why I am very blessed to still be playing at the highest level and trying to get that same level everyone is expecting from me and I'm expecting from myself."

AuthorMichael EllisSourceLiverpool FC
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