Virgil Van Dijk closing in on long-awaited Liverpool return

Reds' defender Van Dijk has been out of action since October

Virgil Van Dijk is set for his pre-season comeback after nine months out injured (Paul Ellis/PA)

Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk looks set to make his return to action this week after nine months out with a serious knee injury.

The Holland captain has been out since undergoing surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his right leg after a clash with Jordan Pickford in October’s Merseyside derby.