Van Dijk missed most of last season due to injury in what turned out to be the start of a nightmare scenario for manager Jurgen Klopp as in addition to the Dutchman, centre-backs Joe Gomez and Joel Matip got injured too.
The centre-back made his return from injury in the first matchday of the season, and in his first two matches he stood strong in the backline as the Reds picked up two clean sheets.
Mane stressed that he was not at all shocked to see Van Dijk return from injury as if nothing had happened and stated that the centre-back has been in a happy mood recently.
The star winger added that the Reds missed the defensive trio dearly last season, a loss he feels would have been felt by any side around the world.
“Last year was obviously a tough time for him [Van Dijk] but now he’s always smiling!”, Mane told Liverpool’s matchday programme.
“And, of course, we are all happy for him.
“He is a very professional athlete who looks after his body all the time and I wasn’t surprised to see him straight back into his old form.
“We have seen him play a few games now and, for me, we have seen him at that level already.
“Obviously it was a big blow for us missing not only Virgil but also Joel [Matip] and Joe Gomez last year.
“If you have these kind of players in your team and you’re missing them, then for sure you will feel it.
“I think any club in this world would feel the same.”
Van Dijk had an injury scare on Wednesday night as he dislocated his finger while playing for the Netherlands against Norway, but he was able to continue and finish the match.
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