The defensive duo finally returned to action in the Reds’ pre-season following a long-term absence due to knee injuries.
Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are both available for Liverpool’s season opener against Norwich City, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed.
Injuries to the Van Dijk and Gomez, on top of fitness issues for some other key players, had a devastating effect on Liverpool’s 2020-21 as they were unable to hit top form and eventually ended the season trophyless.
After being on a lengthy road of recovery, however, the two center-backs are now back to full fitness right in time for the new season.
The Dutchman returned to action in the friendly against Bologna before starting and lasting 70 minutes against Athletic Bilbao. The Englishman, meanwhile, was afforded just an hour in his side’s final pre-season fixture against Osasuna.
Asked if Van Dijk & Gomez are fit for the trip to Carrow Road, Klopp told the club’s official website: “I think so, it looks like [they are available to start].
“But how it is with these kind of things, we have nothing to rush in this department. We just have to make then a decision on who will start, who will come on, things like this and if I think they are ready for 90 minutes then they are ready to start.
“If I think we have to take them off earlier then it makes no sense because centre-half is not actually a position where you want to change during a game and so we will see.
“But both look really good. An intense season is coming up. We will see how we decide that.”
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