Liverpool Defender Virgil van Dijk Suffers Major Knee Injury

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk in 2019
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk in 2019. Photo by Terry Donnelly/News Images/REX/Shutterstock (10191449bp)

Liverpool met up with rivals Everton on Saturday, finishing the Merseyside Derby tied 2-2 with their cross-town rivals.

While the final result might have been disappointing for Reds fans, the news that they got following the game on Sunday was much, much worse.

Star Liverpool defender and Netherlands national team standout Virgil van Dijk, who was forced to leave the game in the 11th minute after a collision with Everton keeper Jordan Pickford, was diagnosed with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left leg.

The injury is serious, and van Dijk is expected to miss the next several months.

The Dutchman posted a message to his social media account showing optimism and determination to return from the injury on Sunday, but it appears doubtful that he will return this season.

Van Dijk, who joined Liverpool from Southampton back in 2018, is arguably their most important player and the anchor of a defensive unit that helped propel the Reds to their first Premier League championship last season.

The 29-year-old defender, who finished in 2nd place in the 2019 Ballon d’Or race, played all 38 of Liverpool’s Premier League games last season and also played in every single one of their 8 Champions League matches.

Liverpool will now be forced to turn to other center-back options, including Joe Gomez, who took over for van Dijk on Saturday following his injury.

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