The return to training of Virgil van Dijk and Roberto Firmino has served as the ideal pick-me-up for Liverpool, as it has infused the team with fresh momentum.
The Reds are in the midst of a terrible season. They have been eliminated from competition in their country’s cup competitions, and their chances of finishing in the top four are dwindling. As they prepare for their match against Wolves this coming weekend, they find themselves in ninth place, 10 points behind Manchester United, who now hold the last available spot in the Champions League.
Injuries have been a problem for Jurgen Klopp’s team at both ends of the field in recent weeks, which has resulted in a number of starts being forced to sit out matches. Van Dijk, a Dutchman who has been sidelined by a hamstring injury for the past five games, is widely considered to be the most significant of those players who have been unable to participate.
However, the central defender was observed practicing with the first team on Thursday, which has raised expectations that he may be available for selection in the not too distant future. And his return to fitness would come at the best time, with Ibrahima Konate currently slated for approximately three weeks away from returning to action.
Firmino, on the other hand, has not participated in a game since the team’s midseason training camp in Dubai. He has joined other players such as Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota on the sidelines due to injury.
It is believed that the two were still working apart from the rest of the group; hence, the trip to the Midlands scheduled for this weekend will come much too soon for both of them. However, after their match at Wolverhampton, Liverpool will face their local rivals in the Merseyside derby and will travel to face one of their top-four competitors, Newcastle United, before resuming their Champions League matchup with Real Madrid on February 21.
A number of people, particularly in light of Liverpool’s extensive injury list, had anticipated that the club would make a late-game move in the transfer market before it closed. But Klopp did not make any changes before the transfer window closed, and Cody Gakpo was the only player they brought in during the month of January.
Jamie Carragher, a legend for the Kop, was interviewed and said that he understood the irritation of the fans about the lack of movement, but he commended his old team for not pressing the panic button. “I can understand the frustrations of Liverpool fans when it comes to transfers, especially when they see other clubs spending left, right, and center, and because Liverpool are not bringing anyone in, it almost looks like they have given up on that fight for the top four,” he explained. “In terms of transfers, I can understand the frustrations of Liverpool fans when they see other clubs spending left, right, and center.”
“But what I would never want my club to be, which is what they were when I was a player, is a little bit scattergun and panicky at different times,” he continued, “whereas Liverpool over the last four or five years have been a model that other teams around Europe have sought to follow.”