Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp revealed his decision to bring off Virgil van Dijk at half time in the defeat to Brentford was due to the defender’s complaint of discomfort.
The Reds were handed a 3-1 defeat by the home side Brentford in Monday’s Premier League clash in west London and Liverpool’s star defender Van Dijk was surprisingly substituted at the interval.
Speaking to reporters in his post-match remarks ( via The Liverpool Echo), Klopp explained that the Dutchman coming off to make way for Joel Matip was owing to Van Dijk complaining of muscle discomfort as Klopp allayed fears of a significant injury.
“Virgil felt a little bit the muscle and said it is fine, and he is a very good judge of these kind of things.
“But I didn’t want to take any risks.
“The physios looked quite happy when I said we don’t take risks. It’s not an injury, he just felt the intensity.”
Monday’s defeat in the English capital to Thomas Franke’s Bees was a first loss in top flight action for Liverpool since the return of club football with the Reds picking up two wins on the bounce against Aston Villa and Leicester City.
It was an underwhelming display on many fronts from Klopp’s men who were the favourites to clinch the three points up for grabs despite Brentford’s impressive run of fortunes against the big-six teams in the Premier League.
