Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk is ready for his challenge off the pitch

The Premier League champions’ defending campaign will be played without the colossal figure of Virgil van Dijk for the rest of the season.

Liverpool’s most expensive signing in their history will miss the rest of the season after it was confirmed that Virgil van Dijk has suffered an ACL rupture during his collision with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

On Saturday the Premier League geared up for the most anticipated Merseyside derby in recent years. Everton’s unbeaten start to the campaign put them in the best position to take all the points for the first time in 10 years while their successful neighbours were seeking redemption for their dismal showing at Villa Park two weekends back.

The game started with the Reds in overdrive and pumping on all cylinders. They went ahead through a great team goal within three minutes of the first half thanks to Sadio Mane. It was eight minutes after this where Liverpool’s game went from extremely good to extremely worrying.

Their star centre back was taken completely out of the game and what now looks to be out for the rest of the season and we are only at Matchday 5 of the Premier League and are yet to get Champions League football underway.

Four goals on the day were only enough to gather a point for both Liverpool based clubs as the scoreline read 2-2 after 90 minutes of football at Goodison Park

It was confirmed on Monday that the player will undergo an operation but before he goes under the knife, talks with professionals about the process of his rehabilitation first. As per others or most ACL injuries VVD is estimated to be sidelined for seven to eight months.

"This afternoon I met with a leading consultant to start the process of planning the finer details of my rehabilitation following the incident yesterday."

Virgil is ready for what’s coming

Despite the hardship in all of this the Dutchman and former Premier League Player of the Year was in high spirits. He is ready for the challenge on its way that will take place off the pitch but will be as demanding of his mental and physical strength when he is on the field.

"I’m now fully focused on my recovery and will do everything I can to be back as quickly as possible.Despite the obvious disappointment, I’m a firm believer that within difficulty lies opportunity and with God’s help I’m going to make sure I return better, fitter and stronger than ever before.I’d like to thank everyone for the messages of support, it’s meant a huge amount to me and my family, and I’ll now be doing everything possible to support my teammates in any way I can ahead of a big few weeks ahead as I take my own recovery day by day. I’ll be back. (Via: @VirgilvDijk)"

Van Dijk almost irreplaceable

Virgil is a big loss that could be the determining factor in silverware or not for Liverpool this season. Jurgen Klopp will now need his entire squad to step up and show the quality that he has entrusted for so long and back up until now.

He has always spoken of the quality from the starting XI to those waiting for their chance on the bench. Keeping things tight and solid at the back now rest on the shoulders of Joel Matip (who could also be injured after the Everton draw), Joe Gomez, and the newly installed Fabinho.