Van Dijk did not try to play doctor, and that restraint is telling.
"Não sou médico, então não sei exatamente qual é a situação, mas tenho a sensação de que nesta semana ele pode voltar ao campo. Espero que seja o mais rápido possível," the captain added.
That feels like the right message for a player who is still trying to build rhythm. Jacquet reportedly missed Liverpool’s recent tour matches in the United States because of the knee problem, so the priority is not a dramatic comeback headline - it is a controlled re-entry before the real business starts.
The key word here is management. Jacquet is a recent arrival, and other reports suggest Liverpool have strengthened their centre-back depth by bringing in Ronald Araujo on loan. That gives the club breathing room.
That matters because defenders returning from any lay-off need timing as much as fitness. The club appears keen to avoid turning a minor issue into a longer interruption.
If Jacquet does appear against Como, the first clue may be the size of the role rather than the quality of the performance. A short outing, a careful workload and a low-stress return would all count as positives.
For Liverpool, the next storyline is simple: can Jacquet get back on the pitch cleanly and give the coaching staff one more genuine option before the Premier League opener?