Van Dijk hopes lift as Liverpool confirm key decision over defender

Liverpool have included Virgil van Dijk in their final 25-man Premier League squad for the season – raising a glimmer of hope the Dutchman could return before the end of the season.

The Holland captain has been out with an ACL injury since mid-October. His progress has been encouraging, though his chances of featuring for the defending champions in their remaining games depend on something of a miraculous recovery.

Nonetheless, Van Dijk has been named in their final Premier League squad of the season. Following the closure of the winter window, teams are expected to hand their final squad list to competition authorities.

The Reds have also included two new loan signings in Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak, who arrived on loan on deadline day.

At 20 though, Kabak is not required to be part of the main squad. Players under the age of 21 are able to be included over and above the 25-man limit.

Curtis Jones, Neco Williams, Rhys Williams, Billy Koumetio, Leighton Clarkson, Jake Cain and Marcelo Pitaluga are among those also listed as under-21s. Clarkson was recently the subject of our popular The Scout feature.

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Other notable inclusions are under-23s striker Joe Hardy, who was brought to the club last January.

However, out goes Takumi Minamino following his loan departure to Southampton.

Liverpool’s 25-man Premier League squad

Goalkeepers: Alisson, Adrian, Kelleher

Defenders: Van Dijk, Gomez, Matip, Davies, Phillips, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Tsimikas

Midfielders: Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Thiago, Milner, Keita, Shaqiri, Oxlade-Chamberlain

Forwards: Salah, Mane, Firmino, Jota, Origi, Hardy

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Klopp tempers Van Dijk talk

While Liverpool have nothing to lose by including Van Dijk, it will raise the small chance of him featuring again before the season was out.

Indeed, one pundit claimed he could even return to action by early March and to smash his injury timeline.

Klopp though is keeping far more pragmatic and suggested earlier this week that Van Dijk would be included.

“No doctor told me there’s a chance for Virgil to play again this season. I don’t want to say it’s impossible but it’s not likely,” said Klopp.

“I think we have space for Virgil on the Champions League list. If we have space for it, then Virgil will be on the (Premier League) list.

“But if there is no space, we have to make a decision. If he is on the list it is only because we hope for a miracle – that is it.”

Davies search

Klopp admits in normal circumstances he would not have gone to the Championship to bring in a player in January but was impressed with what he saw in Davies.

“In the last few weeks and days we had to consider our situation and what we had to do,” he said.

“We were always looking all over, in each league in Europe and when I saw Ben it was really interesting. We watched him in a lot of games and saw he is a really good footballer. He knows how to defend.

“I was a second division player myself and we all dreamt of playing in the first league. Ben did that as well and now it is a big opportunity for both sides.

“I am a big believer in opportunities and taking chances. Ben sees it the same way.”

READ MORE: Klopp labels Man City star ‘one of the best he’s ever coached’