The Liverpool defender is regarded as one of world's best defenders - but his career was in major doubt in 2012 after going under the knife
Virgil van Dijk will enter Liverpool's crunch Premier League run-in knowing the true meaning of life and death.
The Netherlands international underwent life-threatening surgery on a burst appendix in 2012 during his spell at Groningen.
Van Dijk's mother Ruby was informed that only his fine fitness saw him pull through the ordeal.
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Thanks in part to a poor diet, the issue occurred before a key derby against Heerenveen which forced him to spent 13 nights in a hospital before going under the knife.