The Netherlands superstar made his comeback after a lengthy period on the sidelines following an injury he suffered in an early Premier League game against Everton in the 2020/2021 season.
Van Dijk was ruled out for the whole of last season and has featured for the first time in a preseason game against Hertha Berlin.
Liverpool’s bid to defend their crown as champions of England took a nose dive last season due to Van Dijk’s absence which also coincided with other injuries to first team players.
The Reds settled for a top four finish and will be hoping to put up a fight in the upcoming season, but Carragher says their success is not guaranteed automatically due to the presence of the former Celtic and Southampton man.
“I think we have to be careful and I think Jurgen Klopp will be,” Carragher said at a Soccer Aid event, per Goal.
“I don’t think we should expect that Virgil van Dijk comes back into Liverpool and Liverpool are going to automatically win the league again this season.
“He’s had a really serious injury and he’s got to make sure he is not rushed back. If he’s back to his best he is the best central defender in world football and that’s what Liverpool will want over the next five or six years, not the next five or six weeks.
“If he doesn’t make the first game of the season it’s not the end of the world, it is about making sure Virgil van Dijk is 100 per cent right so he’s in a position where he can have the next five or six years at Liverpool at a top level.
“It may be a gentle start with Virgil until we see him when he is 100 per cent right, but if that could be on that first game of the season and he can play the next few games I think everyone would be delighted.”
