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Virgil Van Dijk was not impressed with Joe Gomez in the training activity (Image: YouTube/Liverpool FC)

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez may be close friends but that didn't stop the Dutchman from ridiculing his fellow defender during a tricky training exercise.

Van Dijk and Gomez once forged a formidable partnership in the heart of Liverpool's defence as the Reds won the title under Jurgen Klopp in 2020.

Injuries, and the arrival of Ibrahima Konate in 2021, have somewhat blighted Gomez's progress over the last few seasons.



However Gomez, who has been linked with an exit as Liverpool continue to seek defensive reinforcements, is now Liverpool's longest serving player, having joined in 2015, as well as a senior and trusted member of the squad.

Yet that didn't prevent his captain from mercilessly trolling him during an activity where, in partners, one holds and drops a stick while the other is forced to catch it in mid air.

In the video released by Liverpool this week, Gomez is seen struggling to grab the stick forcing Van Dijk to mock his friend, who ultimately informs him that: "This is on camera by the way".

An exasperated-looking Gomez eventually catches the stick, and then tries to catch out the Liverpool captain with the same trick.

However, a consummate professional as ever, Van Dijk catches the baton every time, denying Gomez the chance to reciprocate the savage ribbing he had just received.

Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez are known to be close friends at Liverpool(Image: Youtube/Liverpool)

The clip is further evidence of just how close the Liverpool duo are.

In 2024, Van Dijk went on record to explain his friendship with the England star.

"I think the closest I am at the moment is Joe Gomez," he said.

I know what it means for him, and I really get to see the inside and how things sometimes are tough.

Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez played a huge part in Liverpool's Premier League victory back in 2020(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"The little things that people might not see in a training ground when you need to make decisions or enforce moments when it’s like, ‘Lads, we need to be better at this’ or it might be timekeeping, it might be different things that you don’t want to slip out of place.

"Virg has done it in his own way, and it’s made him even more appreciated amongst us as a team.