Virgil Van Dijk and Jota provide major boost to Liverpool
Last Updated: February 24, 2021 5:07 pm
Star back at AXA training centre
Finally some good news for Liverpool fans, as Virgil Van Dijk has been seen training outside for the first time, with a football at his feet, as he continues his recovery from the serious knee injury he suffered back in October 2020.
The news will no doubt provide some much needed joy to supporters of the club who have seen their title defence crumble as they continue to be ravaged by injuries and tumble down the Premier League table.
Van Dijk has spent time in Dubai whilst recovering but his mere presence at the training ground is likely to lead the club to believe that their Dutch international is on his way to working his way back into the first team.
Virgil van Dijk has to solo Liverpool training.
The defender has been pictured outside with the ball at his feet.
Van Dijk was in good spirits during his session. #awlfc [liverpool echo] pic.twitter.com/E5qYqsvAya
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) February 24, 2021
@VirgilvDijk continuing to work his way back to full fitness. pic.twitter.com/1HGSJK6RZq
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 24, 2021
With injuries to Joe Gomez and Joel Matip as well as makeshift centre-backs Fabinho and Jordan Henderson the return of the Van Dijk can’t come quick enough, even if he still has some way to go before returning to first team action.
Jota also returns
Liverpool’s Portuguese striker Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring a goal with Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino (L) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Leicester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Jon Super / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JON SUPER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
There was additional good news for the Jurgen Klopp today as Diogo Jota also returned to full team training. The Portuguese star was in fine form before suffering a knee injury in December.
Here he is pic.twitter.com/5iNYEHTc3k
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 24, 2021
He could be ready to make the bench for the weekend’s clash with Sheffield United and more involvement in next week’s clash with Chelsea, which could be go someway to deciding which of the clubs make the top 4.
Off the back of the news that Jordan Henderson is likely to miss 4-6 weeks, the return of Jota to first team training and Van Dijk’s recovery gathering pace is no doubt most welcome.
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This article was edited by Tom Canton.
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| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City FC | 32 | 44 | 74 |
| 2 | Manchester United FC | 30 | 25 | 60 |
| 3 | Leicester City FC | 30 | 19 | 56 |
| 4 | Liverpool FC | 31 | 16 | 52 |
| 5 | West Ham United FC | 30 | 11 | 52 |
| 6 | Chelsea FC | 30 | 16 | 51 |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 30 | 19 | 49 |
| 8 | Everton FC | 29 | 3 | 47 |
| 9 | Leeds United | 31 | 0 | 45 |
| 10 | Aston Villa FC | 30 | 10 | 44 |
| 11 | Arsenal FC | 30 | 5 | 42 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 31 | -10 | 38 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace FC | 30 | -16 | 38 |
| 14 | Southampton FC | 30 | -14 | 36 |
| 15 | Burnley FC | 30 | -16 | 33 |
| 16 | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 30 | -5 | 32 |
| 17 | Newcastle United FC | 30 | -20 | 29 |
| 18 | Fulham FC | 32 | -18 | 26 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion | 30 | -34 | 21 |
| 20 | Sheffield United FC | 30 | -35 | 14 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 19 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 19 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 16 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 14 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 14 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 13 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 12 |
| Watkins, Ollie | Aston Villa FC | 12 |
| Gundogan, Ilkay | Manchester City FC | 12 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 11 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 10 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United FC | 10 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 9 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City FC | 9 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace FC | 9 |
| Aubameyang, Pierre-Emerick | Arsenal FC | 9 |
| Soucek, Tomas | West Ham United FC | 9 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 8 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lundstram, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 8 |
| Gallagher, Conor | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 8 |
| Maguire, Harry | Manchester United FC | 0 | 8 |
| Bellerin, Hector | Arsenal FC | 0 | 8 |
| Milivojevic, Luka | Crystal Palace FC | 1 | 7 |
| Luiz, Douglas | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 7 |
| Hayden, Isaac | Newcastle United FC | 0 | 8 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 7 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 0 | 7 |
| Xhaka, Granit | Arsenal FC | 1 | 6 |
| Phillips, Kalvin | Leeds United | 0 | 7 |
| Evans, Jonny | Leicester City FC | 0 | 7 |
| Egan, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 6 |
| Targett, Matt | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 7 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1 | 6 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 6 |
| Tielemans, Youri | Leicester City FC | 0 | 6 |
| Soucek, Tomas | West Ham United FC | 1 | 5 |
| McGoldrick, David | Sheffield United FC | 0 | 6 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United FC | 0 | 6 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 13 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 11 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 10 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City FC | 10 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 9 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 7 |
| Cresswell, Aaron | West Ham United FC | 7 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 6 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 6 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 6 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 6 |
| Pereira, Matheus | West Bromwich Albion | 6 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 6 |
| Werner, Timo | Chelsea FC | 6 |
| Neto, Pedro | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 6 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 6 |
| Digne, Lucas | Everton FC | 6 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 5 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United FC | 5 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 5 |
