Liverpool issue Virgil van Dijk fitness statement ahead of Newcastle United trip

Liverpool are sweating on the fitness of key defender Virgil van Dijk ahead of this weekend's Premier League return. The classy defender has left the Dutch national squad after picking up an injury, with the Reds set to assess him before their game with Southampton on Sunday.

Newcastle United host Liverpool on December 4, their third game after the international break after Eddie Howe's side take on West Ham and then Crystal Palace. But any injury for the Liverpool skipper would come as a huge blow for manager Arne Slot ahead of a testing period for his side.

Liverpool face Real Madrid in the Champions League and then Manchester City in the Premier League, before heading to St James' Park on December 4. They already have a concern over defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, and will be hoping there is no serious issue for Van Dijk.

READ MORE: Anthony Gordon's half-time England message that hints at Newcastle United attitude

READ MORE: £423m worry hands Newcastle United transfer opportunity amid Premier League interest

Dutch manager Ronaldo Koeman said ahead of their Nations League game with Bosnia and Herzegovina.: “For both Frenkie (de Jong) and Virgil it is better for them to leave the training camp at this moment. That decision was taken on medical grounds, with of course the interest of the players coming first.”

Liverpool then issued their own statement, saying: "Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk will not be involved in the Netherlands’ second fixture of this international window on Tuesday night. The centre-back has departed the Dutch camp ahead of their UEFA Nations League tie at Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was announced this morning.

“Van Dijk skippered his country to a 4-0 victory over Hungary in Amsterdam on Saturday evening that confirmed their qualification to the Nations League quarter-finals before the next match. He will return to the AXA Training Centre this week for assessment ahead of the Reds’ campaign resuming with a trip to Southampton on Sunday.”

Van Dijk was sent off in the correspending fixture last season, of course, after fouling United's Alexander Isak in a game Newcastle led until a sickening late Darwin Nunez double gave the visitors a 2-1 win.