More to Come from Me, Says Liverpool's Van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk. (AFP)
Virgil van Dijk. (AFP)
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More to Come from Me, Says Liverpool's Van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk. (AFP)
Virgil van Dijk. (AFP)

Liverpool center back Virgil van Dijk is happy with his return from a lengthy injury layoff but the Netherlands international said there is still room for improvement as he tries to rediscover his best form.

A serious knee injury sidelined Van Dijk for most of last season and this year's European Championship, from which the Netherlands were eliminated in the last-16 by the Czech Republic.

Liverpool's defensive linchpin Van Dijk has played in all of their Premier League games this season, with the Merseyside club sitting at the top of the table on 14 points after six matches.

"I think there's still loads to come," Van Dijk told the Liverpool website. "I feel good but there is always room for improvement and I feel like it's on the way.

"Anyone who knows about having a knee injury and being out for such a long time knows that it will take up to, even after you're back playing, another year maybe before you are fully, fully recovered.

"But everyone's body is different, everyone's knee is different, everyone's recovery is different... So far I'm very happy with the progress I've made and I'm not there yet."

Table toppers Liverpool, the only unbeaten team in the league, host second-placed Manchester City on Sunday.



Mbappé Scores Again as Real Madrid Ends 2024 in 2nd Place in Spanish League

Real Madrid's French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe reacts during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on December 22, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Real Madrid's French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe reacts during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on December 22, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
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Mbappé Scores Again as Real Madrid Ends 2024 in 2nd Place in Spanish League

Real Madrid's French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe reacts during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on December 22, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Real Madrid's French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe reacts during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on December 22, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)

Kylian Mbappé added to his scoring streak with a superb strike 10 minutes into a Spanish league match as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 4-2 on Sunday to finish the year one point behind leader Atletico Madrid.
Mbappé sent a right-footed shot into the upper corner for his fourth goal in as many matches with Madrid in all competitions. It was Mbappé's sixth goal in his last eight games with Madrid, The Associated Press reported.
Federico Valverde, Rodrygo and Brahim Díaz also scored in the comfortable home victory.
Atletico rallied to shock Barcelona 2-1 Saturday with a stoppage-time goal by Alexander Sorloth. Third-place Barcelona is two points behind Madrid, having played an extra game.
Valverde scored in the 20th and Rodrygo in the 34th before Sevilla got on the board with Isaac Romero in the 35th. Díaz extended Madrid's lead in the 53rd and Dodi Lukebakio got the visitors' other goal in the 85th at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Sevilla, sitting in 12th place, had won two of its last two games in all competitions.
Valencia draws late Second-to-last Valencia salvaged a 2-2 home draw with Alaves, thanks to a goal by Dani Gómez eight minutes into second-half stoppage time after the visitors had taken the lead with Joan Jordán in the 88th.
The setback drew more protests from Valencia fans who have been unhappy with the administration of team owner Peter Lim.