NewsLFC fitness update: Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones
Virgil van Dijk will miss Liverpool’s Europa League game with Toulouse due to illness, Jürgen Klopp has confirmed, while also providing updates on injuries to Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones.
Reds captain Van Dijk was not part of the 23-man squad that travelled to France on Wednesday, but at his pre-match press conference the boss confirmed the Dutchman should return for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Brentford.
“Virgil is a little bit ill,” Klopp said. “It will not be a big thing but we did not want to have him on the plane, if some others have it as well.
“I have it a little bit but for me it is not a problem, that’s why we left him at home. He should be absolutely alright for the weekend.”
Klopp also issued updates on the fitness of midfielders Gravenberch and Jones, neither of whom have travelled to Toulouse for Thursday’s Group E tie.
“Ryan got a little niggle of the knee,” added the manager. “It is not major, he was running already today, but [there was] no chance for this game. We hope there is a chance for Brentford, and he will definitely be back after the international break. That’s why he’s not here.
“Curtis had a hamstring [injury] last week. Not massive. After the international break he will be back, but not before.
“[It is a] low, low-grade hamstring. He was in good shape, [got a] red card, lack of rhythm, got the Europa League games and then in the game at Bournemouth he didn’t feel anything there when I took him off, but then I went in the dressing room and I think he felt a little bit the hamstring, so we made a scan.
“Very low grade, but it took him out.”