Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has admitted he took a risk with his fitness last autumn.
The Netherlands star scored in a 2-0 win over Wolves, as he looks closer to his best form after a six-week injury layoff.
The 31-year-old has come in for some criticism from Reds fans this term for his lackluster form.
Coming back from the knee injury, I played all the Premier League games, I think, because everybody wants to be out there I want to be out there," said Van Dijk after the Wolves win.
That's what I'm working hard for. What caught up is that I played too many games at a time.
When it's game day I want to play. I'll do everything possible to play. But I could have also thought before the World Cup: Let's rest a little bit in order to be ready". But I didn't because I want to play and I want to be influential for this football club because I love this club.
I work each and every day to be successful for this club. But it caught up with me unfortunately, my body, I'm not a robot, and I think going into the World Cup, having the World Cup, and then doing nothing for a week and coming back it was maybe not the right decision."