Jurgen Klopp issues uncertain response to Virgil van Dijk's Liverpool injury lay-off

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has said he does not want to know how long Virgil van Dijk will be out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The Dutchman suffered the injury after a challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the Merseyside derby last weekend, which ended 2-2 thanks to goals from Sadio Mane, Michael Keane, Mohamed Salah and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Van Dijk is set to undergo surgery on his knee and he could miss the rest of the season as a result of the injury.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool's Premier League clash with Sheffield United on Saturday, Klopp gave an update on Van Dijk's condition.

When asked if the 29-year-old had undergone the operation on his knee yet, Klopp said: "I can understand people are interested in that.

Virgil van Dijk is facing an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

"Virgil was here, he’s OK. But about when the surgery will happen and stuff like this, I don’t think it makes sense that we give pretty much a time schedule every day.

"But it will be fine and will happen in an appropriate time. So, that’s it pretty much – he is as good as possible."

Klopp then admitted he does not want to know when Van Dijk could be back, adding: "We don’t even want to know it, to be honest. It will take time, that’s clear.

"In the end, it’s really like this: all people are different and so we should not limit that by saying 'for him it was that long, for him it was that long'.

Jurgen Klopp has given an update on the Dutchman (GETTY)

"I think it makes sense from a specific moment in the recovery, in the rehab time, that it becomes individual because then everybody copes differently with it and each body. That’s why [there is] no need for [a timeframe]."

He also offered an injury update on the rest of the squad, adding: "So, let me say it like this with the others, apart from Ox and Virg, obviously, and maybe Kostas, who gets closer and closer but is not at all in contention for this game or the next one.

"All the others, we have to see day by day pretty much. It’s a lot of conversations with the medical department – for who it makes sense, for who it is too early and all these kinds of things."