Liverpool handed huge injury boost ahead of Southampton trip

Liverpool have been handed a huge injury boost with Virgil van Dijk expected to be fit to face Southampton despite picking up an ankle knock against Tottenham, according to ESPN FC.

Van Dijk once again started in the middle of the Liverpool defence during their Premier League clash with Spurs at Anfield on Sunday afternoon with the Dutch international putting-in another excellent display.

The centre-back played an important role in preventing Tottenham taking advantage of a two-vs-one situation in the second half when the score was evenly poised at 1-1 which resulted in Moussa Sissoko blazing over the bar.

Liverpool fans were left concerned after the 27-year-old was seen limping heavily after taking a kick to his right ankle during the closing stages of Sunday’s win that saw the Reds score in injury time to secure a priceless 2-1 victory and move back to the top of the table.

Van Dijk will no doubt have been assessed by the Liverpool medical team at Melwood today and ESPN FC claim sources close to the club have informed them that the defender’s injury is nothing serious.

The report says van Dijk has suffered nothing more than bruising and there is no ligament damage to worry about so the Dutchman is expected to be fit to face his former club on the south coast on Friday night.

The news will come as a welcome relief to Jurgen Klopp as the last thing he would want is to lose his £75m defender with Liverpool going head-to-head with Manchester City to lift the title this season.

Van Dijk has been ever present in the league this season and has been a colossus at the back for the Merseysiders since arriving from Southampton in January 2018 with the centre-back playing a key role in their title challenge.

City can move back to the top of the table if they beat Cardiff at home on Wednesday night so the pressure will be back on Liverpool to respond when they travel to St Mary’s o Friday.