Virgil van Dijk returns to Liverpool early from international duty 'on medical grounds'
Today at 07:45 AM
Virgil van Dijk has returned to Liverpool from the Netherlands camp ‘on medical grounds’ ahead of their clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday night.
Both the centre-back and Barcelona’s Frenkie De Jong have been released by manager Ronald Koeman and will not feature in the Nations League contest in Zenica.
The Reds defender and the Barca midfielder both started the 4-0 win over Hungary on Saturday, with Van Dijk playing the full match and De Jong substituted after 68 minutes.
Koeman confirmed on Monday: ‘For both Frenkie and Virgil it is better for them to leave the training camp at this moment.
‘That decision was taken on medical grounds, with of course the interest of the players coming first.’
It is not thought that there is in an injury concern for Van Dijk, but the step has been taken to manage his workload, with Netherlands already set for a second place finish in their Nations League group.
Liverpool have a very busy period to come, starting with a Premier League trip to Southampton on Sunday which is followed by a massive double-header.
The Reds have back-to-back games at Anfield, firstly welcoming Real Madrid to Merseyside on 27 November in the Champions League and then Manchester City in the Premier League four days later.
They return from the international break having been in fine form beforehand, though, wining their last four matches before the players departed for their national teams.
Arne Slot will still be without Diogo Jota for the trip to Southampton, but hopes to have Alisson Becker, Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott available again.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s availability is unclear after pulling out of the England squad due to a hamstring problem.
