Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk returned to action for Liverpool, nine months after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee during a Merseyside derby against Everton. 

The 30-year-old featured as a substitute during Liverpool’s 4-3 pre-season friendly defeat against Hertha Berlin, coming on after 70 minutes and captaining the side.  Joe Gomez also returned from a left knee injury, similarly playing 20 minutes in the match at the Tivoli Stadion in Austria.  Van Dijk sustained his injury after a heavy challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford last October. There was much controversy as Pickford’s tackle went unpunished. 

Gomez, meanwhile, suffered his injury while on international duty with England in November.