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Injured Jota back to full Liverpool training while Van Dijk continues recovery
The duo have been out for months with knee problems but gave their club a boost by advancing in their recoveries
Diego Jota and Virgil Van Dijk have given Liverpool a rare bit of positive fitness news this week by progressing from their respective injuries in training.
Jota (knee) fully participated with team-mates in Wednesday's session, while Van Dijk (knee) was able to work out on his own outside.
It appears Jota will be in outside chance at contention for this weekend's trip to Sheffield United - a much-needed boost following the announcement captain Jordan Henderson's groin problem "doesn't look good". Van Dijk remains far from a match return, but his appearance near the training ground nonetheless offers a reminder of the world class talent the ailing squad will eventually get back.
What is Jota's injury timeline?
Jota last played on December 6 against FC Midtjylland in the Champions League. The recovery process from his knee injury suffered in that match has been arduous but seems nearly complete.
What is Van Dijk's injury timeline?
Van Dijk is expected to miss the remainder of the campaign with the torn ACL he endured in October, though Jurgen Klopp has said he's pleased with the speed of the centre-back's rehab.
The bigger picture
Liverpool have been in astonishingly poor league form, dropping four straight matches to fall from title contenders to Champions League qualification outsiders.
Jota, signed last summer, had been brilliant before his injury, scoring nine goals across all competitions. His creativity has been missed as the Reds have seemingly run out of ideas in the final third lately, and his return would be a welcome lift for Klopp's attack.
Van Dijk's injury, meanwhile, represented the turning point in the season. It took time for cracks to fully emerge, but the domino effect Van Dijk's absence has had in forcing natural midfielders to drop into defence has been a factor in a previously harmonious squad to losing its balance.
