Virgil van Dijk has returned to Liverpool from the Netherlands national team camp due to “medical grounds,” ahead of their UEFA Nations League match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday night.
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Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman also released Frenkie de Jong from international duty, citing the players’ well-being as the priority.
Both Van Dijk and De Jong featured in the Netherlands’ dominant 4-0 victory over Hungary on Saturday, with Van Dijk completing the full match while De Jong was substituted after 68 minutes.
Koeman clarified on Monday that their absence isn’t due to injuries but to manage their workload effectively.
He stated, “For both Frenkie and Virgil, it is better to leave the training camp at this moment. This decision was taken on medical grounds, with the players’ interests coming first.”
Liverpool faces a demanding schedule post-international break, starting with a Premier League match against Southampton. Following that, the Reds have a Champions League showdown with Real Madrid on November 27, followed by a critical league clash against Manchester City four days later.
Van Dijk’s return aligns with Liverpool’s strategy to preserve key players for pivotal matches. The team is optimistic about the availability of Alisson Becker, Federico Chiesa, and Harvey Elliott but remains uncertain regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold, who withdrew from England duty due to a hamstring issue. Diogo Jota is confirmed to miss the Southampton fixture but continues his recovery.
Liverpool’s form heading into this intense period has been impressive, with four consecutive wins before the international break. Van Dijk’s managed workload is expected to strengthen their momentum in these vital upcoming fixtures.