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Klopp says Van Dijk is a 'quick healer' following the Dutchman's knee operation

SHOWS:

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 17, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES VIA ACTION IMAGES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)

1. STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF LIVERPOOL DEFENDER, VIRGIL VAN DIJK, COLLIDING WITH EVERTON GOALKEEPER JORDAN PICKFORD, RESULTING IN INJURY TO VAN DIJK'S KNEE (3 SHOTS)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (OCTOBER 30, 2020) (LIVERPOOL FC HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER JUERGEN KLOPP, TALKING ABOUT VIRGIL VAN DIJK'S KNEE SURGERY, SAYING:

"What I can tell that after surgery, and it was successful, which is really good, the best news we could get, is that this time is always unpleasant, everybody who's had a surgery knows that, you don't wake up and everything is fine, so feel still the surgery, so and that's it. But he is good, as good as you can be, and that's it."

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - FEBRUARY 17, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

3. LIVERPOOL DEFENDER VIRGIL VAN DIJK DOING EXERCISES EARLY THIS YEAR

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (OCTOBER 30, 2020) (LIVERPOOL FC HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER JUERGEN KLOPP, TALKING ABOUT VIRGIL VAN DIJK'S COMEBACK FROM INJURY, SAYING:

"Yes. It's clear to say he's a quick healer and he's a pain-coper, so that's all clear, all these things, yes, they help."

5. WHITE FLASH

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (OCTOBER 30, 2020) (LIVERPOOL FC HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER JUERGEN KLOPP, AFTER BEING ASKED WHETHER HE ENJOYS COPING WITH PROBLEMS LIKE VAN DIJK'S INJURY, SAYING:

"Maybe enjoying is not exactly the right word, but I realised long ago that life is a challenge and it is a challenge 100% I guess in the moment, it always how I understood life is. Always if you overcame the first impression of the incident, it's all about solutions. Problems are only there to find solutions for, and so yes, in the solutions I'm excited about then, that's true, and I see the challenge in the situation, yes, and I see there's an opportunity, yes, that's all true, but still, we play Premier League - we play football games every three days and so this will stay a challenge so about me, I'm fine, we are fine, we deal with the situation and we will make the best of it, that's the plan."

STORY: Liverpool centre back Virgil van Dijk has successfully undergone knee surgery after he damaged ligaments against Everton and manager Juergen Klopp said on Friday (October 30) that he is looking for solutions in defence with Fabinho also sidelined with injury.

Van Dijk was injured in the 2-2 draw earlier this month when he was at the receiving end of a reckless challenge by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

The club did not give a time-frame on his return, with the Dutch defender potentially ruled out for the rest of the season due to the nature of the injury.

"The surgery was successful, which is really good, the best news we could get," Klopp told reporters ahead of Saturday's (October 31) Premier League match against West Ham United.

"He's as good as can be... It's clear to say he's a quick healer and a pain-coper."

Midfielder Fabinho, who has been slotting into the back four in Van Dijk's absence, suffered a hamstring injury against Midtjylland on Tuesday (October 27) and is unavailable.

"I realised long ago that life is a challenge. This is a challenge 100%... Problems are only there to find a solution for. I see the challenge in the situation and I see there's opportunity.

"We play football games every three days so this will stay a challenge... We will deal with the situation and make the best of it."

Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson is fit, however, with Klopp saying he was withdrawn at halftime against Midtjylland in the Champions League to keep him fresh for the weekend.

(Production: Mike Brock)