Van Dijk, Gomez Return For Liverpool In Berlin Loss 

By Ibrahim Taiwo, The Nigerian Voice Sports

Liverpool were defeated by Hertha Berlin in a 4-3 friendly thriller that saw Reds defensive duo Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez return to the pitch following lengthy injury spells.

Van Dijk and Gomez entered in the 69th minute of the loss at Austria's Tivoli Stadion, which saw Stevan Jovetic score a second-half brace to seal the win for the German side.

Santiago Ascacibar and Suat Serdar gave Hertha a two-goal lead by the half-hour mark before Sadio Mane and Takumi Minamino equalised it for Jurgen Klopp's side.

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp embraces Virgil van Dijk as he enters the match. John Powell/Liverpool

Klopp then substituted out the starting XI with 20 minutes left in the match, with Van Dijk and Gomez pairing up in defence. Van Dijk hadn't played since rupturing the ACL in his right knee on Oct. 17 against Everton, while Gomez tore a tendon in his left knee on Nov. 11 during international duty for England.

Despite the return of the defenders, Jovetic was able to score in the 66th and 80th minute to deliver the win for Bertha, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pulling one back minutes before full-time. (ESPN)