Liverpool confirms Van Dijk needs knee operation

It is a nightmare scenario for Liverpool.

Since Van Dijk signed for Liverpool in January 2018, the club has won the Champions League, FIFA World Club Cup and Premier League.

Everton forward Richarlison has sent an apology to Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara following his red card on Sunday.

Van Dijk has been a commanding presence at the heart of Liverpool's defence throughout the team's rise to the top of English and European football in recent years. The Dutchman played a vital role in Liverpool's first league title in 30 years.

Liverpool sources have told ESPN that a timescale on Van Dijk's recovery period is impossible to gauge until the player has undergone surgery, but sources are reluctant to rule out a return to action this season.

Klopp, however, was keen to throw his backing behind Gomez after a shaky couple of weeks.

The Netherlands centre-back was forced off after only ten minutes of the Merseyside derby after a late challenge by Jordan Pickford.

"He plays on with pain, he never misses a game".

The hope is that the Dutchman's absence from the Liverpool team isn't as long as now feared, but there is no confirmation either way yet.

Not that it made much difference at Goodison Park where they were twice pegged back having gone ahead after three minutes through Sadio Mane and then Mohamed Salah's 100th goal in 159 matches, a brilliantly instinctive volley.

For a second the question hung heavily in the air.

Liverpool have asked the Premier League to review its VAR decisions following the side's 2-2 draw against Everton.

Jordan Pickford could yet be retrospectively banned after his shocking tackle on Virgil van Dijk, according to the Mirror's John Cross.