Van Dijk plays through pain again as fans complain about treatment in Bergamo

Virgil van Dijk has played through the last two Liverpool games with a dislocated finger which was 'pointing the wrong way' when suffered.

The Reds captain needed treatment in the first minutes of Liverpool's away game at Atalanta on Thursday and it can be revealed he suffered a dislocated finger and had to have it popped back into place.

It is the second time the 32-year-old has had the injury, first happening playing for the Netherlands against Norway.

Manchester City star Erling Haaland inflicted the blow on that occasion, with the striker saying at the time: 'I think I broke Van Dijk's finger! I do not know how it happened. He just said, 'F**k it. You broke my finger!'.'

Van Dijk has had his finger in a protective guard and while it might impact gym work or make a minor difference when using his physicality with opposition attackers, it was never a knock that would threaten ruling him out of games.

BAZUNU'S BAD LUCK OFFERS KELLEHER CHANCE

One injury that is more serious, however, is that of Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who has had an operation on a ruptured Achilles and will miss nine to 10 months.

That opens the door for Caoimhin Kelleher to step up and cement his bid for Ireland No 1.

Kelleher has impressed this season and has played just one game fewer than first-choice keeper Alisson Becker, 26 to 27.

The Irishman will have plenty of suitors this summer with his price-tag certainly being increased given his stellar season.

The decision over whether to stay at Liverpool - where he would remain as No 2 to Alisson - or leave in search of more guaranteed minutes, will likely be up to him. Nottingham Forest made an approach for his services in January.

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