Why Is Virgil van Dijk Not in Liverpool’s Squad Against Arsenal in FA Cup Round 3? Real Reason Revealed

In just a few hours Liverpool will be taking on Arsenal in the FA Cup Round 3. But in a surprising move, manager Jurgen Klopp has decided to leave out star defender Virgil van Dijk from the squad. This may raise some eyebrows, but there is an important reason: to give his star some much-needed rest.

Van Dijk has already featured in 20 matches this season. Moreover, Liverpool is facing a busy schedule with fixtures in the Carabao Cup and the Premier League. Unfortunately, the 32-year-old is currently not in optimal health.

Why Jurgen Klopp has dropped Virgil van Dijk from the match against Arsenal?

According to esteemed journalist Fabrizio Romano, Virgil van Dijk has been struck by an illness. Due to this unforeseen illness, the 2019 Ballon d’Or runner-up will not be able to participate in the upcoming match against Arsenal. Thankfully, there is no injury involved in his absence.

As a result, Klopp has made the decision to grant his star defender some much-needed rest. Alongside the Dutch defender, another notable absence from the squad is Mohamed Salah. The forward has linked up with Egypt for their upcoming match in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against Mozambique.

Other than today’s match, Salah can also potentially miss three more matches if Egypt advances to the finals in the AFCON. Regarding Virgil van Dijk’s potential absence, Jurgen Klopp has provided an update on the health status of his star defender.

Liverpool boss reveals the Dutch defender’s condition

In the pre-match press conference ahead of the Arsenal game, Klopp addressed the decision to exclude Virgil van Dijk from the lineup. Specifically, he mentioned “Virgil is ill. We will see how he feels tomorrow.” He added that there was no possible way for Van Dijk to play against Arsenal in his current condition.

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The 56-year-old also expressed doubt about Van Dijk’s availability for the next crucial match against Fulham in the Carabao Cup semi-final. “We need to see if he can make the next one,” stated the German manager. With such a big game coming, Klopp will undoubtedly be desiring Virgil van Dijk’s return to the team.

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