Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Virgil van Dijk is making 'really promising' progress as the defender continues to recover from his horror knee injury.
The Dutch defender has been sidelined since October after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the Merseyside Derby against Everton following Jordan Pickford's reckless lunge.
While Liverpool have put no timescale on his injury, Van Dijk gave fans hope that he could make a return before the end of the season after he was spotted kicking a ball while recovering in Dubai.
The 29-year-old has been in the Emirates for a month with his own personal trainer, and he kept fans up to date with his progress by posting videos of himself working out every other week or so.
When asked about Van Dijk's progress on Wednesday, Klopp refused to categorically say he wouldn't play again this season but admitted he didn't know when he would actually return.
'I don't know what is possible and I don't think I am the right person to judge it,' said Klopp.
'He looks really good and I've spoken to him. He is in a good mood but I don't know when he'll be back. I had this injury myself but for the time we are in and how long he is out, he looks really promising.'
With Joe Gomez out of action as well, Klopp has had to look to midfield duo Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to fill in at centre-back in recent weeks as the club's defensive nightmares continue.
However, Klopp was handed a major boost with the return of Joel Matip, who has returned to full training and is contention to play against Burnley on Thursday.
The defender has missed Liverpool's last three games with an adductor injury he picked up against West Brom in December. Matip returned to training at the end of last week but was not fit enough to play against United on Sunday.
Klopp provided an update on the 29-year-old as well as the fitness of Diogo Jota, who has also been sidelined by injury.
He said: 'Joel is in full training and now we have to make a decision. Yesterday he trained completely normal.
'Diogo is still a few weeks away,' said Klopp. 'He will not be ready in the next one or two weeks.'
Source: m.allfootballapp.com