Liverpool Give Update On Virgil Van Dijk Following Everton Game

Liverpool have confirmed that Virgil van Dijk has suffered an injury to his knee ligaments and will undergo surgery, following the challenge by Jordan Pickford on Saturday.

Van Dijk had to go off injured very early on in the Merseyside derby and Everton keeper Pickford was very lucky to stay on the pitch.

After the game there were reports that the Dutchman had damaged is ACL and would be out for the rest of the season.

The Reds have now confirmed how serious the injury is, in a statement on their website. "Liverpool FC can confirm Virgil van Dijk will undergo surgery on the knee injury he sustained during Saturday's 2-2 draw at Everton.

"The centre-back damaged knee ligaments following an incident involving Blues goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after six minutes at Goodison Park.

"Van Dijk was required to be substituted and further assessment on the injury has revealed an operation will be needed.

"No specific timescale is being placed upon his return to action at this stage.

"Following surgery, Van Dijk will begin a rehabilitation programme with the club's medical team to enable him to reach full fitness as soon as possible."

Van Dijk was in the Everton box in the sixth minute because of a corner, with Liverpool having already taken the lead, when Fabinho lifted the ball towards the far side of the box.

The former Southampton defender ran onto the ball and Pickford came off his line to beat the centre back to the ball.

Pickford lunged in on the defender and didn't win the ball but it wasn't a penalty as Van Dijk had been offside from the initial ball.

There was some confusion as to whether or not the goalkeeper still could have been sent off, with far less disagreement about if he should had it been onside.

The impact of losing Van Dijk was felt immediately by Jurgen Klopp's side with questions of the defence over both Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin's goals on Saturday.

If the Reds do lose their most expensive ever player for the rest of the season, as is likely, it will be a huge blow to their chances of defending the title.