Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has eased talk of an early playing return for Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in October after a reckless lunge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.
He underwent surgery on the knee injury in London at the end of October and has since returned to work at the club's AXA Training Centre in Kirkby.
"He's as good as you can be in this situation," Klopp said.
"Virgil is a very positive person and since he overcame the shock of the actual injury, he is in a really good mood and working hard to get back.
"But this is a very long, long-term injury so it was still, I have to say, a crazy challenge which I still don't understand. I don't think about it but you ask me and it comes up.
"It is a very, very serious injury and it will take time but he makes the steps he can make in the moment."
