The Liverpool duo were both in international action as the Netherlands played out a 1-1 draw against Jurgen Klopp's Germany in the Nations League
Cody Gakpo and Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp was reunited with Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk
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Jurgen Klopp showed the strong bond he still shares with his former Liverpool players Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk as they shared warm hugs in a heartwarming reunion before Germany's Nations League clash with the Netherlands. Klopp spent nine years at the helm of Liverpool before announcing his decision to leave the club in the summer of 2024.
He then joined the Red Bull group in early 2025 as head of global soccer, taking on a role overseeing its extensive football network, which includes RB Leipzig in Germany, Red Bull Salzburg in Austria and the New York Red Bulls in the United States. Since stepping away from Liverpool, speculation had continued to surround Klopp's future in management, with the former Reds boss linked with both club and international roles.
Germany, in particular, had been viewed as a potential destination. Klopp had reportedly reached an agreement that would allow him to leave Red Bull if the opportunity arose to take charge of Germany. That opportunity eventually arrived, with Klopp agreeing to succeed Julian Nagelsmann in July, signing a four-year contract with the German Football Association.
Klopp was reunited with his former Liverpool assistants, Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz, and on Thursday, in his first game in charge, he came up against two more familiar faces in Gakpo and Reds and Netherlands captain van Dijk.
During the warm-up, Klopp was seen chatting with the pair before sharing warm hugs during their reunion. There were plenty of smiles between them, highlighting the strong relationships built during their time together at Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp and Virgil van Dijk
The pair were reunited
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Gakpo would later add to the occasion by scoring a stoppage-time equaliser for the Netherlands, rescuing a 1-1 draw between the two sides.
Before the encounter, Klopp had defended Van Dijk following the defender's public clash with the Dutch media. Tensions had risen in the aftermath of the Netherlands’ World Cup elimination by Morocco.
During a heated press conference, Van Dijk dismissed claims that he had influenced the tactical changes that contributed to their last-16 exit, describing them as 'utter nonsense.'
Addressing one reporter, he said: "One of your colleagues also said, of course, that it was my idea to switch to playing with a back five. That is utter nonsense. The fact is, we simply failed at the World Cup; those are the hard facts.
"We didn't play a good World Cup. It's not about me. You perform together; you’re a team. Your claim that I destroyed Dutch football after the World Cup – that sort of thing is completely baseless."
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When asked about it, Klopp said: "I think you yourselves know that you are quite critical. Virgil should tell you that. Our German journalists are pretty good too [at being critical], but you might not even be that much worse.
"I haven't really followed the Dutch press, but I assume you weren't happy with the elimination. Then the captain gets more criticism too. Virgil has had a lot of great moments in his career and also a few lesser ones.
"Because he is not only physically present, but normally also because of his performances, I can imagine that he gets singled out a bit."
Van Dijk, 35, could win his 100th cap in the current international break if he plays in all four of the Netherlands' Nations League matches against Germany, Greece and Serbia (twice).