Jurgen Klopp has confirmed if Virgil Van Dijk is fit enough to take part against FC Porto.
Liverpool will play FC Porto in the Champions League Quarterfinals on Tuesday. The English heavyweights beat them convincingly last season in the Round of 16 and are hoping to repeat the same kind of performance when these two sides go head-to-head at Anfield in the last eight.
The Anfield faithful were worried about the fitness of Virgil Van Dijk when he was seen limping after the game against Tottenham Hotspur last week. Despite having trouble with his toe, the Dutch International captained Liverpool to a 3-1 victory over Southampton on Friday night.
Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Virgil Van Dijk faced an issue after the Southampton clash, but has assured that the defender has recovered in time to face FC Porto in the Champions League Quarterfinals. Along with Van Dijk, his compatriot Georginio Wijnaldum and Cameroonian Joel Matip faced similar kind of issue after the game against the Saints, but the trio has been passed fit for the clash against the Portuguese heavyweights.
In the Pre-match Press conference, Jurgen Klopp said: “Gini (Wijnaldum), Joel (Matip), Virge (van Dijk) all had problems, but they should all be ok.”
Liverpool boss also confirmed the young defender Joe Gomez will be integrated with the team only after proper match fitness after coming back from a lengthy layoff from an ankle injury.
“It’s better for Joe to have more sessions. If we have enough we shouldn’t think about Joe for next 1 or 2 weeks.” added Jurgen Klopp.
The manager also confirmed that number 20 Adam Lallana will be forced to miss this clash because of an injury which kept him out for the Friday night game against Southampton.
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Liverpool have a season defining week ahead as they prepare to face FC Porto in the first leg of the Champions League Quarterfinals, followed by the game against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.
