Why is Virgil van Dijk not playing for Liverpool against Bayern Munich? Defender gives Jurgen Klopp selection headache

Why is Virgil van Dijk not playing for Liverpool against Bayern Munich? Defender gives Jurgen Klopp selection headache
Liverpool will be without key defender Virgil van Dijk for the first-leg of their Champions League last 16 clash with Bayern Munich.The Reds welcome the Bundesliga champions to Anfield tonight and Van Dijks absence has given Jurgen Klopp a major headache.3

Van Dijk was booked for this challenge on Dries Mertens during Liverpool’s group stage campaign, which has ruled him out of the first leg against Bayern

With Joe Gomez still injured and Dejan Lovren unlikely to feature, Klopp will have to deploy a makeshift back-four for the crucial game.Heres why Klopp has been dealt the untimely blow and what he may do to combat it.

Why is Virgil van Dijk not facing Bayern Munich?

Van Dijk is suspended for the clash having picked up three yellow cards in the group stage of the Champions League.Surprisingly the Dutchman has only been booked four times in all competitions this term but his trio of cautions in Europe have seen him banned.3

Jurgen Klopps Liverpool face Bayern Munich this week

Who will Jurgen Klopp pick instead?

As Van Dijk and Gomez are out and Lovren is struggling with a hamstring issue, midfielder Fabinho could join Joel Matip in central defence.At his pre-match press conference, Klopp said: “Dejan, we have yet to see.“Fabinho – if [he plays in defence] – in the Champions League, against Bayern Munich, it’s not an easy job.“But because we thought it makes sense that we don’t leave our last row alone defending against Bayern, it depends all on how we defend in general, so that’s it.3

Liverpool midfielder Fabinho could join Joel Matip in central defence against Bayern Munich

“There will be a lot of moments where we have to defend and we’ve worked on that. We tried to work on that because we respect the quality of Bayern Munich a lot – speed, technique, experience, it’s all there what you need to be successful.”Lovren, who hasnt played since early January, did not take part in the open section of Liverpools training session that followed Klopps press conference on Monday.

Will Virgil van Dijk be back for the second-leg?

Yes, the 27-year-old will be available for the return leg in Germany on March 13.He would then pick up another suspension should be receive a fifth yellow card later in the competition.

Its beneficial that Liverpool wont have Van Dijk at home v Bayern.There wasnt anything wrong with that tackle on Mertens by the way.Danny Murphy on why #LFC shouldnt worry about Van Dijks suspension pic.twitter.com/u4AQ59N8GX— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) December 17, 2018

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