Virgil van Dijk injury: Liverpool captain pulls out of Netherlands squad

Virgil van Dijk injury news has hit Liverpool and the Netherlands at the start of the international break. The Liverpool captain has pulled out of the Dutch squad for this month’s Nations League games after failing to return fit from the weekend.

The Netherlands confirmed the news on Monday afternoon. Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey has also withdrawn, and no replacements will be called up for either player.

What the Netherlands and Liverpool said

The Dutch national team posted the update on X at 16:49 UK time. It said Van Dijk and Brobbey “aren’t fit enough to feature in the upcoming Nations League matches” and added that “no replacements will be called up”.

The Dutch FA also said that “both players did not return fit from the past weekend”, according to The Independent.

Liverpool followed soon after. The club confirmed that Van Dijk has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad for this month’s fixtures. Their statement put it down to “a fitness issue” but did not say what the problem is.

The Virgil van Dijk injury and the games he will miss

The news is a surprise because Van Dijk played the full 90 minutes at Selhurst Park on Sunday. Liverpool won 3-1 against Crystal Palace, with Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak on the scoresheet. You can see how every Liverpool player rated in our Crystal Palace vs Liverpool player ratings.

He was meant to travel straight from south London to join up with the Dutch squad. Instead, he will now stay with Liverpool. Here are the two games he will miss.

Day	Fixture	Venue
Friday	Netherlands vs Greece	Amsterdam
Next Monday	Germany vs Netherlands	Berlin

Brobbey’s problem looks clearer. He hobbled off with a muscle injury after 67 minutes of Sunderland’s 1-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday, with Wilson Isidor coming on in his place.

Iraola’s international break fears

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola had made no secret of his worries before the break. In October, the club lost Alexander Isak, Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo to injuries picked up on international duty.

Speaking after the Palace game, Iraola said: “The last thing we need now is to lose players in the international games. Last time, we lost three very important players. It’s the last thing we need, so I hope he can take care of it.”

Asked what he thought the Liverpool medical staff would recommend, he added: “I know what I want, but I also have to understand the national teams. Also, I am sure that if he is fine, he will want to go, but I am not sure if it is going to be fine.”

What comes next for Liverpool

Liverpool have not given any timescale for their captain’s problem. For now, the key point is that their captain will spend the break at the club rather than playing in two Nations League games.

There is another worry. Szoboszlai is due to have tests on his knee after he was taken off against Palace. The Independent says he could miss Hungary’s games against Georgia and Northern Ireland.

Liverpool fans will be hoping both men are ready when club football returns. Follow every update on fitness, form and fixtures in our Premier League news hub.