Injury boost for Liverpool as this crucial first-team star resumes training

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is in contention to face Flamengo

In a major injury boost to Liverpool, ace defender Virgil van Dijk has resumed training after missing the Club World Cup semi-final against Monterrey due to an illness (h/t Liverpool Echo).

Jurgen Klopp had previously refused to confirm or deny the Dutchman’s participation in the final against Brazilian side Flamengo this Saturday (h/t Liverpoolfc.com

With Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren out injured, there was fear that the added absence of Van Dijk would leave our defence exposed against a Flamengo team that is proficient at attacking.

With Joe Gomez the only fit centre-back, captain Jordan Henderson filled in alongside him against Monterrey. The Liverpool defence looked extremely porous with the Mexican opponents slicing through the back four at regular intervals.

Alisson Becker single-handedly kept the Reds in the match and his international teammate Roberto Firmino came off the bench to win it for Liverpool at the death.

The importance of Van Dijk to this Liverpool team cannot be underestimated and luckily for us, the fans will go into the final with confidence.

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Liverpool face South American champions Flamengo in the Club World Cup final on Saturday in a repeat of the 1981 Intercontinental Cup which Flamengo won 3-0.

With the Dutchman available, we hope we can avoid a repeat of that performance and win our first Club World Cup.