Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson says Virgil van Dijk is full of positive energy as he prepares for knee surgery.

Van Dijk is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines and could miss the rest of the season after suffering the injury following a challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford last weekend.

Henderson told Liverpool's matchday programme: "It's his presence and personality that will leave a hole on matchdays and in the training sessions. As important as the fans think he is, to us as team-mates it's even more so.

"It was typical of Virgil that after digesting the news, one of the first messages he sent to us – all of us – was upbeat and inspirational. The exact content will of course remain private, but there wasn't one word in there feeling sorry for himself. It was all about looking ahead and making sure he comes back better and stronger."

He said: "Likewise, when he came to Melwood on Tuesday he just radiated positivity. That's the big man. And it's on us to take his lead and only think about the positive impact we can all have from this moment on."