Virgil van Dijk admits making sacrifices to stay fighting fit for Liverpool duty

The 31-year-old centre-back has been a mainstay for the Reds again this season. 

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk accepts he has been overplayed in the last two seasons (Peter Byrne/PA)

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is making more off-field sacrifices to ensure he remains in peak condition after accepting he has played too much across the last two seasons.

Such is the importance of the Netherlands captain to the club’s fortunes he rarely takes a break, but that has appeared to catch up with him in the current campaign.