Here are your Liverpool morning headlines for Monday, 19 October.
Van Dijk pens letter following injury
It’s hard to think of a worse challenge on a football pitch which entirely escaped punishment. Jordan Pickford didn’t just put Virgil van Dijk out of the Merseyside derby on Saturday either, as it has been confirmed that Liverpool’s defensive star requires surgery on the injury he sustained.
The Dutchman is now facing a significant spell on the sidelines as he battles back, and the Reds have to cope without arguably the best defender in the world as they look to retain their Premier League title while also going deep into the Champions League.
Van Dijk released a message on his social media channels yesterday, thanking fans for their support. “I'll now be doing everything possible to support my teammates in any way I can ahead of a big few weeks ahead as I take my own recovery day by day. I'll be back,” he wrote.
You can read the full details of what van Dijk had to say here .
Throw-in coach provides Champions League insight
Liverpool begin their Champions League journey for the 2020/21 campaign in Amsterdam on Wednesday night when they face Ajax. Anfield then gets a taste of European football next week when Danish side FC Midtjylland are in town.
There is one man who holds a unique insight into both of those teams and also the Reds as he has coached all three: Thomas Gronnemark.
At present he is only working with Liverpool, as he explained on a special Blood Red podcast . “Who is my favourite team? I am always cheering for the team that I am coaching now,” he said.
The Reds’ throw-in coach also spoke in detail about the threats Ajax and FC Midtjylland will provide, and you can read more of what he had to say here .
Carragher defends Pickford
It might have surprised many Liverpool fans that their former centre-back Jamie Carragher defended England shot-stopper Pickford when speaking about the van Dijk incident on Sky Sports yesterday.
But the former defender certainly knows what he is talking about when it comes to situations like the unfortunate one which unfolded at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon.
"Yeah, it was a terrible tackle. But I’ve had my leg broken, I nearly broke Nani’s leg,” he said. "Pickford has made a really poor decision, a really poor challenge. But that should be the end of it.”
You can read Carragher’s full comments on the matter here .
