Liverpool fear they could be without Virgil van Dijk for up to six weeks, with the Dutchman now a doubt for the side’s Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid.

The 31-year-old came off at half-time in the Reds’ 3-1 defeat to Brentford on Monday after sustaining a hamstring strain.

While Van Dijk did not pull up during the match, he felt the issue during the first half and felt the wisest decision was to come off at half-time.

However, the damage was already done as scans revealed the injury was worse than first feared with Van Dijk set to miss at least the next month of action.

But the Daily Mail go further, reporting that Liverpool fear he could miss the first leg of the Champions League tie against Real Madrid.

Liverpool’s top four hopes already hang in the balance and they can ill-afford to be without the defender as the fixtures come thick and fast over the next two months.

The Reds face Wolves in the FA Cup this weekend before taking on Brighton in the Premier League.

That would keep Van Dijk out for the next six weeks, leaving Liverpool without the Dutch defender for seven matches.

SOURCE: metro.co.uk