Virgil van Dijk sums up Liverpool dressing room reaction to Alisson Becker injury return

Virgil van Dijk hailed Alisson Becker’s return for Liverpool, admitting that the Reds may have given him too much work to do against Girona.

Alisson played for the first time since being forced off with a hamstring problem at Crystal Palace in October as he helped put Liverpool on the verge of a place in the last-16 of the Champions League. The Brazilian produced a number of important saves as the Reds made it six wins out of six in Europe, with Mohamed Salah’s penalty securing a 1-0 victory in Spain.

The visitors’ performance didn’t leave Arne Slot too pleased, although the Liverpool boss will no doubt be delighted with the performance of his goalkeeper upon his return. Slot had been adamant that Alisson would reclaim his No.1 spot despite Caoimhin Kelleher impressing in his absence, and his decision was vindicated in Catalonia.

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Alisson will now be hoping his injury problems do not return again as he looks to help Liverpool to domestic and European glory this season, with Van Dijk underlining his importance after the Reds’ latest victory.

“Yeah I think we needed him a couple of times, maybe too many, but he was there again and I’m happy for him and all of us that he’s back,” Van Dijk said. “He’s such an important player for us on and off the pitch, so very happy that he’s back.”

Reflecting on his return and his time out injured, Alisson told TNT Sports: “It’s great to be back, an amazing feeling. It was a long wait for me this time.

“It was an injury after a small injury and then a big one, nine weeks I think I was away. [I was] working really hard every day in the gym, when you are injured you work even more than when you are fit.

“When playing, you just play and try to recover as much as you can, but when you are injured you have no excuses. You have to prepare, you have to stop for a while and then prepare and work hard. It’s like doing a pre-season again in the middle of the season, but I’m so glad to be back.

Liverpool.com says: As good as Kelleher was in Alisson’s absence, there is just no denying Liverpool is a better team with the Brazilian in goal. Having the world’s best keeper back fit could be crucial to the Reds’ hopes of silverware this season, and hopefully he can stay fit now for the remainder of the season.