Virgil van Dijk reveals “little knock" putting LASK availability in doubt
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Yet, as the dust settles on Sunday’s bruising 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Anfield, a fresh and worrying concern has emerged that could force Andoni Iraola’s hand.Speaking in the mixed zone after the final whistle, Van Dijk revealed he was nursing a calf issue that required immediate medical attention even while refusing to accept that a rest might be in his best interests ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League trip to LASK.For Kopites, watching our skipper limp through the closing stages was painful enough. But as Iraola prepares to fly out to Austria with an ever-expanding injury list, the manager faces a delicate act: do you play a wounded leader, or protect the Liverpool's defense before the season slips into crisis?'Pretty painful' – Van Dijk’s calf knock and defiant stanceLiverpool entered Sunday's fixture already depleted, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak, and Cody Gakpo sidelined.
Speaking to reporters post match, Van Dijk detailed the physical toll of Sunday's defeat:"Obviously it’s not a given I’m starting but I’m doing everything in my power to be ready," Van Dijk explained. "I had a little knock in the end on my calf which is pretty painful, so I’m going home to get some treatment to be ready for Wednesday."Despite the pain and a grueling schedule that saw him clock 360 minutes for the Netherlands in UEFA Nations League action over the past fortnight, Van Dijk dismissed any notion that his body needs a break"If I’m fit and ready to play I want to play," he insisted.
The manager decides: if I play I play, if I don’t I don’t and that’s just it.""Do you think I want a rest?" the Dutchman asked when pressed on his workload. Of course, I’m disappointed, I don’t like losing whatsoever, especially at home, but I know in three days everyone expects us to perform again so we have to be ready and that’s the responsibility we have."The workload reality and Iraola’s LASK dilemmaVan Dijk’s desire to put his body on the line is precisely why he is revered across Merseyside.