Heading into their Club World Cup final against Flamengo, there were doubts about whether Liverpool would have Virgil van Dijk available.
The 28-year-old missed the Reds’ semi-final win over Monterrey through illness, forcing Jurgen Klopp to deploy Jordan Henderson at the back.
In the end, though, Van Dijk was able to recover in time to make his manager’s starting XI for the final, with the club’s official Twitter account posting both the team news and a picture of his shirt prior to kick-off.
It sent fans into raptures, though that is hardly surprising given Van Dijk’s importance to the team.
The Netherlands captain is an absolute titan of a defender, boasting an average of 5.4 aerial duels won per game in the Premier League this season, a number only West Ham’s Sebastien Haller can better out of first division regulars (via WhoScored).
You can have a look at how Liverpool fans reacted to the club’s Van Dijk tweet below…
https://twitter.com/SS_LFC/status/1208422091571286019
Its a beautiful thing..
— Stephen Kirk (@kirkers5) 21 December 2019
— .L.R. (@Louis47980021) 21 December 2019
YASSS BABYYYYYY!!
— v (@vinaakbrn) 21 December 2019
VAMOOOS! pic.twitter.com/bmnAxsRiez
— Sadio Mané Brasil #YNWA (@SadioBrasil) 21 December 2019
HE IS OUR NUMBER FOUUUUR
— DENTISTORITO🎶 (@m_eid98) 21 December 2019
WE WATCH HIM DEFEND
— Tom (@Towarth) 21 December 2019
legend’s back <33
— Akshita Ramola (@RamolaAkshita) 21 December 2019
