VVD suffers grade 3 ACL tear – out 6-9 months

Following a horrific challenge from Everton GK Jordan Pickford, Liverpool’s star defender suffered a grade 3 ACL tear, and will undergone surgery for it.

VVD is expected to miss between 6-9 months.

The loss of VVD will put a major hole in LFC’s league-leading defence. As in the 96 games before Virgil arrived, they averaged 1.25 goals conceded per game. While in the 96 games after Virgil arrived, they conceded only 0.81.

Last year, title rivals Manchester City lost their star CB, Aymeric Laporte, to a right knee injury, ending up missing 30 games as his team finished 18 points below the champions.

It is important to note that VVD’s injury is considered worse than Laporte’s.

Liverpool’s aerial dominance, game control, and compactness will all likely suffer as a result of the loss of their #1 defender.

Liverpool play their first Champion’s League match this upcoming Tuesday against Ajax.

Works Cited:

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12108375/will-virgil-van-dijk-injury-end-title-race-like-aymeric-laportes-did