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LIVERPOOL. — Liverpool defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez returned to action following lengthy spells out through injury.

Dutchman Van Dijk (30) has been out for nine months after surgery on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage suffered against Everton last October.

Gomez (24) has missed eight months after suffering a knee injury in training with England in November.

Both players appeared as second half substitutes in Liverpool’s 4-3 friendly loss against Hertha Berlin in Austria on Thursday.

“It was a nice feeling,” said manager Jurgen Klopp regarding the pair’s return. “260-something days for Virg and not much less for Joe they didn’t play football, so it’s nice to have them back. It was the first step, really important.”

Van Dijk tweeted after the game: “285 days ago, I started on a journey back towards playing. It’s hard to express how I am feeling, but it’s important to me that I say I feel blessed to have had the support of so many incredible people.”

Jurgen Klopp says van Dijk and Gomez both made an “important first step” in their return from long-term injuries after featuring in Thursday’s 4-3 friendly defeat to Hertha Berlin.

Both had been training with Liverpool in their pre-season camp in Austria, but despite Klopp saying they were unlikely to play any minutes against Hertha Berlin, he sprung a surprise by introducing the pair in the second half.

After the game, Klopp said: “It was a nice feeling. Started immediately well and usually we all know that the fourth goal is a clear situation which saw and defend well. But that’s it.

“I’m not sure, 260-something days for Virg and not much less for Joe they didn’t play football, so it’s nice to have them back. It was the first step, really important.”

Van Dijk thanked his surgeon and Liverpool staff for helping him in his recovery, admitting he found it difficult to describe how he felt after his long-awaited comeback.

“285 days ago, I started on a journey back towards playing,” said Van Dijk, writing on Twitter.

“It’s hard to express how I am feeling, but it’s important to me that I say I feel blessed to have had the support of so many incredible people.

“The surgeon, my physios, coaches and staff who have been with me in my corner since day one.

“My team-mates for giving me energy and keeping my head up. The fans for their love, support and encouragement.

“And most of all, my family because without them, I’d be nothing. Thank you.” — BBC Sport.