Virgil van Dijk has described his ACL injury recovery in 2020 as “one of the best times” of his life.

The Liverpool defender suffered the serious injury after a reckless challenge by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who escaped punishment.

Van Dijk spent nearly a year sidelined, missing key matches for both club and country.

Virgil van Dijk says injury after Jordan Pickford tackle was ‘one of the best times of his life’	Virgil van Dijk makes surprise revelation about his horror ACL injury caused by Jordan Pickford back in 2020, explaining why it was 'one of the best times of my life'	Virgil van Dijk makes surprising admission about horror injury caused by Jordan Pickford

Despite the severity of the injury, he now reflects on that period with unexpected gratitude.

He explained that the recovery gave him rare and valuable time with his family.

He spent seven weeks in Dubai during his rehab, away from Liverpool’s training ground, which allowed him to reconnect with his loved ones.

His successful comeback helped Liverpool win two Premier League titles.

However, critics have continued to reference his injury, especially during a dip in form in the 2022/23 season.

While no player wants a serious knee injury, Van Dijk believes that moment offered something uniquely valuable.

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