Virgil van Dijk will not play for Liverpool tonight. Due to sickness, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk will not play in his team’s Premier League match against Chelsea on Tuesday, April 4.
Van Dijk reportedly skipped training the day before the critical match against the Blues, according to The Athletic. Despite missing seven games this season because of a hamstring injury, the seasoned back has been crucial for Jurgen Klopp’s team. In 32 starts across various leagues, he has contributed to his team’s 11 shutouts.
For Liverpool, who are keen to resume their top-four pursuit, his absence is a major setback. On Saturday, they were humiliated 4-1 at Manchester City. (April 1). They were now ranked eighth in the division, eight points behind fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur.
Van Dijk discussed the loss with the citizens of the city and warned them to expect some stern words in return: “(It was) aggravating. Although Mo (Salah) made a fantastic goal in the first half, I thought the second half was fairly evenly matched. A major blow and a very frustrating second half came when the score was 2-1.
The Dutchman won’t participate in the match against Chelsea. Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, and Ibrahima Konate are the options for center defense, and Klopp must choose one of them.
Loftus-Cheek, a midfielder for Chelsea, told the Blues’ website that games against Liverpool are “always intense physically and a battle,” outlining the type of match that might take place between the two Premier League heavyweights. The bar they’ve set is very high, and they haven’t been performing at their best as they have in recent years.
Chelsea and Liverpool rarely face off because they are both in the middle of the standings. After a dismal 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa last Saturday, the Blues are in the bottom half of the standings and are currently in 11th place. (April 1). That loss signaled Graham Potter’s departure as manager of Stamford Bridge.
As they both attempt to recover from disheartening losses, the two teams can anticipate a tense game. In the rematch from January, they managed a dull 0-0 stalemate.
The team of Klopp will be cautious lest Chelsea benefits from a coaching shift. Bruno Saltor, Potter’s deputy, will be in charge of the team at Stamford Bridge.
Keep yourself informed about the latest developments in your favorite player’s career through the latest football news and rumors.