Klopp Assistant Reveals Liverpool’s Plan To Replace Virgil Van Dijk

Liverpool have managed to cope without Van Van DIjk so far after his potentially season-ending injury.

There had been reports that the Reds would go into the transfer market when the window opens in January in order to replace Van Dijk, though Liverpool assistant head coach Pep Lijnders has downplayed those suggestions.

Speaking to a fan Q&A on the club’s official website, the assistant to Jurgen Klopp gave an update on the situation and explained that he wants the youth team to provide backup support to the first team.

Lijnders said: “I think the individual is very important, but I think what separates us from other teams and what I feel is really different is we have a strong culture and we have a clear identity of play and that even with losing individuals we stay focused on this collective idea.

“There’s a saying that without good players there’s no collective, but without a collective there will never be success.

“If you stay focused on improving our way of play, encouraging each individual to take more initiative, to attack more, to evolve the team, then I feel that there is not a back-up plan, it’s focusing on our way and our idea.

“It’s always like this but some devastating moments create life-changing moments for other players because we have so much faith in our young blood, in the players we brought up, our own players.

“These moments where you lose a top, top player automatically creates a big chance for a young player, because we invest a lot of time and we have a big commitment to them to be part of our squad.

“What I’m trying to say is: I feel really the best back-up plan is the Academy.

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“If the Academy is right and there’s a fluid process between the Academy and the first team, the best back-up plan is always young players because they never let you down – never, never. And that’s what you saw.”

This post was first published on GoalBall.