Big Van Dijk boost & Reds in “negotiations” for Kerkez – Latest Liverpool FC News

Liverpool have received a timely boost regarding Virgil van Dijk, while a fresh Milos Kerkez transfer rumour has emerged.

Today’s Main LFC Headline

For the past week or so, we’ve been collectively keeping our fingers crossed about Liverpool’s players staying fit on international duty.

Thankfully, there have been no setbacks to date – in fact, there has been a welcome boost on Monday!

It has been confirmed that Van Dijk will return to Liverpool and play no part in the Netherlands’ clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday night.

His release was described as being on “medical grounds,” but we expect he is just being rested for his side’s dead rubber.

The 33-year-old will enjoy a breather ahead of the Reds’ return to Premier League action away to Southampton on Sunday (2pm UK).

The same thing happened with Van Dijk during the October internationals after his red card, so Arne Slot will be delighted with his national team!

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Today’s Liverpool FC News

• Liverpool are “in negotiations” for Bournemouth left-back Kerkez, according to reoprts in Hungary. He assisted twice against Man City earlier this month!

• Mo Salah has sent a warning over comparing him with rumoured Liverpool target Omar Marmoush, urging his compatriot to be allowed to enjoy his own journey. Mo’s a class act!

• Curtis Jones helped England thrash Caoimhin Kelleher‘s Republic of Ireland 5-0 at Wembley on Sunday. It’s fair to say one has bragging rights over the other when they return to the AXA!

• Andy Robertson has revealed he has been given the role of Liverpool’s enforcer when it comes to collecting fines. But he thinks he’s been “stitched up!”

• Liverpool Women were “let down by officials” after a shocking penalty decision went against them in the 1-0 defeat away to Everton in the WSL. Officials are hopeless everywhere!

More from This Is Anfield

• Liverpool injury latest: Likely return dates for Federico Chiesa, Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and more – can’t wait until they’re back

• INTERNATIONAL ROUNDUP: Ibrahima Konate captained France to victory away to Italy, with six Reds players returning from the break unharmed

• Liverpool’s top 10 Premier League players of 2024/25 so far, according to the stats. Does Salah lead the way?

• OPINION: How Dominik Szoboszlai’s shooting has changed and why it suits Liverpool, by Harry McMullen

Elsewhere in the football world today

• Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been given a seven-match domestic ban by the FA for an alleged racist remark made about Son Heung-min. He will miss the clash with Liverpool on December 22

• England captain Harry Kane wants to continue playing for his country beyond the 2026 World Cup. He’ll be dropping so deep by then that he’ll be in goal! (BBC Sport)

• On Instagram, Jude Bellingham has hinted at issues under Gareth Southgate with England, saying he got his “smile back” with Lee Carsley in charge (Sky Sports)

Liverpool FC: On this day

On this day in 1997, Michael Owen scored his first-ever hat-trick for Liverpool.

It came in a 3-0 win at home to Grimsby in the League Cup fourth round, with Owen still only 17 years of age at that point.

The following summer, he would explode into superstardom, following a memorable goal for England against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.

History hasn’t been kind to Owen at Liverpool, not least because he joined Man United in 2009, but he was world-class at his peak, scoring 158 goals in 297 Reds appearances.