There is a good chance that Virgil van Dijk will be in Liverpool’s selection on Saturday for the opening game of the season against Norwich City, Jürgen Klopp announced on Thursday. The centre-back, who has had to recover from a serious knee injury for almost ten months, has left a good impression during his last appearances in preparation. Joe Gomez, who also suffered a serious knee injury, is also expected to be part of the roster.
Van Dijk was in the starting line-up last Sunday in the friendly against Athletic Club and played for more than seventy minutes, before being taken off by Klopp for Rhys Williams. Gomez, in turn, played an hour against Osasuna. Klopp thinks both defenders have a chance to kick-off against Norwich, but emphasizes that no final decision has been made yet. “It looks very similar,” the German tells the club’s website. “But we know how it goes with situations like this. We shouldn’t be too rushed.”
Liverpool will kick off the season on Saturday evening at 6.30 pm with the away game against Norwich. “We have yet to make a decision on who will start,” Klopp continues. “But if I think they can play 90 minutes, they are also fit enough to start. If I think we have to switch them early, it doesn’t make sense because central defenders are not players you like to switch during a match. We’ll see. They both look really good. There’s an intense season coming up, so we’re going to need everyone.”
Liverpool has a fairly stable preparation and only went down against Hertha BSC (4-3). Klopp is satisfied with the way his selection has presented itself. “I have received a good signal in recent matches. I know how we want to play, the players know what level it takes. If they want to be part of that, they know what is being asked.” The decisions about Van Dijk and Gomez are separate from that, Klopp emphasizes. “Those are choices for one game, not for an entire season. So that’s not a headache, to be honest.”
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