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Virgil van Dijk has reflected on his knee injury(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

Virgil van Dijk says the serious knee injury that ruined his 2020/21 campaign with Liverpool turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Van Dijk underwent surgery to repair his knee and spent countless hours working hard in the gym on his recovery, often accompanied by Joe Gomez, who had also suffered a knee injury around the same time.

Van Dijk found that period difficult, but not being able to play also meant he got to spend more time with his family.



Reflecting on that period after securing a second Premier League title on Sunday, he has a philosophical take on the subject.

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“It was one of the best times of my life,” he told GQ.

And, obviously, no one wants to get a serious knee injury, but that time we had was sort of worth it.”

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Van Dijk made his first steps on his recovery in the pre-season of 2021 before returning for the 2021/22 campaign.

It took him time to get up to speed and he says that he found the running commentary on his performances difficult to deal with.

Jordan Pickford injured Virgil van Dijk with a poor challenge(Image: PETER BYRNE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

“Every mistake, in any game, people will refer to the injury,” he said.

“My injury was caused by a kick,” Van Dijk said back in 2021.

“It wasn’t a moment when nobody was around.