Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez remain in line to miss the UEFA Euros, claimed Liverpool FC boss Jurgen Klopp, as the German confirmed that the centre-back pairing look highly unlikely to feature for international duty in the summer.
Both Van Dijk and Gomez are on the sidelines for the remainder of the ongoing campaign with long-term layoffs and Klopp expects the duo to continue working their way to full fitness heading into the pre-season camp.
Klopp also detailed Joel Matip’s injury situation to be quite similar to his defensive colleagues, with the Cameroonian international being another one of the long-term absentees in the Liverpool FC ranks.
“That’s not my decision. But, to be honest, the information I have in the moment [is] it will be unlikely,” the Reds boss said in his pre-match remarks.
“So, not that I don’t let them go because I don’t want to have to do that anyway, but it’s because of the extent of the injury. We all hope that they will be ready to start the pre-season with us. That’s what we hope.
“And, by the way, with Joel it’s pretty much the same, he’s just not qualified for the Euros but it’s with him the same.
“These are really serious injuries. And it’s not about now that we talk [about] which competition they can play. As far as I know – and I’m always open for positive surprises, now they all of a sudden show up in team training – but nobody told me that.
“We are completely over the moon when they are ready to train with us for the start of pre-season. About the Euros, I didn’t think about it.
“I don’t know when you would have to be back that you are able to play the Euros. The week before? The day when the Euros start? I don’t know. That’s it. I understand maybe the need of that but we cannot make this decision and we will not.
Injuries to his key defensive regulars had forced Klopp’s hand in bringing in additional reinforcements on deadline-day in the January window as Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies arrived on Merseyside in the final hours.
Nat Phillips has emerged as Liverpool FC’s custodian in the heart of the defence in recent times and he will be expected to pair up once again with Kabak come Monday night in Midlands when the Reds take on Wolves.
