“We have to be hopeful” — Klopp on Virgil van Dijk illness

Liverpool’s commanding defender, Virgil van Dijk, was notably absent during Sunday’s clash against Arsenal in the FA Cup third round due to illness, a setback that left manager Jurgen Klopp both optimistic and uncertain about his availability for future fixtures.

Klopp confirmed the Dutchman’s absence ahead of the match, citing illness as the cause and indicating that Van Dijk’s condition would be evaluated in anticipation of the upcoming Carabao Cup semi-final against Fulham on Wednesday.

“Virg is ill. We were actually kind of lucky in the last two, three weeks because a lot of staff had it but not the players,” Klopp stated, highlighting the unfortunate timing of Van Dijk contracting the virus.

He emphasized the need to assess Van Dijk’s well-being before determining his availability for the forthcoming fixture, acknowledging that attempting his participation against Arsenal was not feasible given his condition.

Despite Van Dijk’s absence, Liverpool managed to secure a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Arsenal, with goals from Kiwior [OG] and Luis Diaz ensuring their progression to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

In a post-match press conference, Klopp was questioned once more about Virgil van Dijk and his potential availability for the upcoming game.

In his characteristically candid manner, Klopp responded, “I am hopeful but I don’t know. It’s difficult for Virg to look sh**t, but he did,” drawing a mix of reactions from those present in the press room.

He further confirmed that Virgil van Dijk was sent home due to the illness.