KEY POINTS

  • Liverpool defeated Burnley 1-0 Sunday
  • Fabinho scored the lone goal just before the half-time break
  • The Reds will next take on Norwich City in the league

Jurgen Klopp praised Virgil van Dijk, saying the center-back has returned to his "best" after Liverpool FC's win over Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday.

Van Dijk, who missed the majority of last season due to an ACL injury, has already clocked over 2,000 minutes on the field in the 2021-22 campaign. Apart from missing two league games due to COVID-19, Van Dijk played 90 minutes of the remaining Premier League games for Liverpool this season.

In fact, the Dutch defender has also scored two goals and provided an assist in the ongoing campaign for Liverpool in the Premier League.

In a post-match interview on Sunday, when Klopp was asked if Van Dijk has returned to his previous best, the German boss said, "Definitely, definitely, you can see it in all movements and everything. We were always convinced that it would happen. He is completely back on track, he is absolutely at his best again and I would say it's good timing because the decisive part of the season is coming up now. Long may it continue."

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk (left) takes a knee as all Premier League players showed their support for the Black Lives Matter campaign
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk (left) takes a knee as all Premier League players showed their support for the Black Lives Matter campaign POOL / PETER POWELL

Fabinho's 40th-minute strike at Turf Moor handed Liverpool a 1-0 win. It was also the Reds' sixth straight victory across all competitions.

"Actually he probably would have already scored much more goals for Liverpool if I would have put him in the box in offensive set-pieces: only recently we put him in and since then he scores! Great goal, an absolutely great goal," Klopp said, according to Liverpool's official website.

Liverpool also set a club record as it was their fifth consecutive league win at Burnley's home.

With the 1-0 win over Burnley, Liverpool are now nine points behind table-toppers Manchester City in the 2021-22 Premier League. A win in their next game would put them just six points behind the defending champions in the title race.

The Reds' upcoming fixture is an away Round of 16 Champions League match against Inter Milan on Wednesday. Klopp's side is scheduled to host Norwich City at Anfield later in the week.

RELATED STORIES