Liverpool: Will Van Dijk Play Against Leicester? Klopp Provides Much-Awaited Squad Update

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Virgil van Dijk is available for Liverpool FC's Premier League clash with Leicester City on Tuesday.

Van Dijk had tested positive for COVID-19, along with three other Liverpool players – Curtis Jones, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara – earlier this month.

While Liverpool are also without a few players due to injuries, Klopp said the club has no new injury concerns ahead of their crucial clash with Leicester at King Power Stadium.

"Yeah, the boys who had to isolate, or had COVID, are back. That means Fab, Virgil, Curtis and Thiago. Thiago was the latest, he came back and trained yesterday for the first time with the team," Klopp said in a pre-match news conference Monday, according to Liverpool's official website.

However, the Liverpool manager revealed that COVID-19 has once again struck his camp as one young player and two members of the support staff have tested positive.

"We have one young player who is now isolating and two staff. It's really tricky, every morning when you come in it's a little bit like a lottery. You hope it's all fine and then one case, that's the situation, but apart from that we are fine," added Klopp.

Van Dijk and others tested positive ahead of Liverpool's league fixture against Newcastle United. While Liverpool managed to secure a 3-1 victory, their title race took a hit when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The Reds certainly missed Van Dijk in the backline, who finished four years at Anfield on Monday.

Liverpool reached a deal for the 30-year-old center-back with Southampton on Dec. 27, 2017 and the player was officially announced on New Year's Day.

After 18 matches in the 2021-22 Premier League, Liverpool are placed second in the table with 41 points, six behind leaders Manchester City. However, Klopp's side still has a game in hand., making the Leicester game vital for the Reds.

Liverpool and Leicester recently locked horns in the quarter-final of the League Cup. Takumi Minamino had netted an injury-time equalizer before Klopp's team won the game on penalties.