Liverpool midfielder James Milner has said that Reds team-mate Virgil van Dijk “needs looking after” following his return from a serious knee injury.
The Dutch centre-back suffered the injury during the Merseyside Derby against Everton last October.
He would go on to miss the remainder of the 2020/21 season, as well as Euro 2020.
Van Dijk returned to action in pre-season, and has so far started all five of Liverpool’s opening Premier League games.
He was, however, rested for the Reds’ 3-2 victory over AC Milan in the Champions League in midweek. Milner has said that there needs to be some rotation involved as van Dijk comes back from a serious injury.
Milner on van Dijk rotation
He explained: “We all think Virg is Superman and he is, 99 times out of 100.
“But the injury that he has come back from – and to look as good as he has done since he has come back – you know, he’s not 21.
“He needs looking after as well, no matter how angry he gets at being left out of the team. He is going to need looking after and that is rotation.
“I think it [rotation] is obviously important. The positions we got into last year, we were unlucky with injuries and players having to play out of position.
“I think it is to help with things like that.”
Milner played the full 90 minutes of Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace at the weekend in a right-back role due to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s illness.
The 35-year-old has started two of Liverpool’s first five league games, with his other appearance coming in the opening day win over Norwich.
Alexander-Arnold is set to miss his side’s Carabao Cup clash against the Canaries on Wednesday, whilst midfielder Thiago Alcantara will also be absent due to a calf injury.
Jurgen Klopp‘s side will be looking to extend their 15-game unbeaten run in all competitions – a run which stretches back to April of last season.
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