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Jurgen Klopp takes swipe at Jamie Carragher after Virgil van Dijk weight claims

Jurgen Klopp takes swipe at Jamie Carragher after Virgil van Dijk weight claims
Klopp hit out at Carragher (Picture: Getty)

Jurgen Klopp has hit back at Jamie Carragher for his comments around Virgil van Dijk’s weight and insists that the Liverpool legend needs to ‘lose a little bit of weight’ rather than his player.

Klopp rested Van Dijk for the 3-0 win over Huddersfield due to physical reasons, which prompted Carragher to claim that the former Southampton man needed to shift some timber.

‘I think it will prove to be a great signing,’ Carragher told Sky Sports. ‘But he hasn’t hit the ground running.

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Jurgen Klopp takes swipe at Jamie Carragher after Virgil van Dijk weight claims
Van Dijk has not had the perfect start (Picture: AFP/Getty)

‘I think he needs to get fit and lose a bit of weight. He actually looks too big.

‘Maybe that’s to do with not having a pre-season, not playing too many games for Southampton.’

However, Klopp disagreed that Van Dijk – who arrived in January in a world-record £75million deal – needed to lose weight and instead took a swipe at Carragher for his own physique.

When asked what his thoughts were on Carragher’s comments he replied: ‘Nothing. Wow.

‘I’m sure Jamie needs to lose a little bit of weight.

‘I know it’s not the case for Virgil. He’s a big tall lad that’s how it is. We have the best nutrition department – no one has come to me and said that.

Jurgen Klopp takes swipe at Jamie Carragher after Virgil van Dijk weight claims
Carragher was criticised by Klopp (Picture: Getty)

‘Being fit means having more muscle than anything else. It’s not an issue.’

While Klopp has been happy with Van Dijk’s start at Anfield, he admitted that he doesn’t expect to see the best of the Dutchman until next season.

‘Very happy,’ he added. ‘There’s a few ups and downs but we will see Van Dijk at his best after the summer.

‘We don’t have to wait until then, so we got him in. The defending style of our defending is different to Southampton, that’s why it makes sense that you get used to it.

Jurgen Klopp takes swipe at Jamie Carragher after Virgil van Dijk weight claims
Van Dijk was rested against Huddersfield (Picture: Getty)

‘For example, Everton was outstandingly good. Swansea was good, defensively, and he was involved in the two biggest chances we had.

‘West Brom was a bad game for the whole team and then we thought it makes sense to rotate.

‘It’s like expected to be honest, completely normal. There’s a lot to do, a lot to work on but the start is absolutely good.’

More: Liverpool FC

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