Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has claimed centre-back Virgil van Dijk will be available to face Arsenal on Sunday.
Speaking with Sky Sports after the Reds’s stalemate against Chelsea last night, the boss was asked whether the Dutchman would be well enough to return for the clash at the weekend.
“I think he will be ready for the weekend, yes,” said Klopp.
According to The Athletic, the 31-year-old missed the trip to Stamford Bridge due to illness. He didn’t train in the build-up to the fixture, so he was subsequently ruled out of contention.
Van Dijk will play vs Arsenal
After last night’s performance, Van Dijk will walk back into Liverpool’s defence against Arsenal.
While Ibrahima Konate was adequate at the back against Chelsea, making an early goal-line clearance to deny Mateo Kovacic, Joel Matip looked out of his depth.
When he was on the ball, he looked somewhat panicked – almost as if he didn’t know what to do with it.
His decline in form was evident, and it again showed Klopp why he needs to prioritise bringing in another centre-back over the summer.
Van Dijk, who has been hailed as ‘incredible’ by Leeds United striker Willy Gnonto, will almost certainly return to the defence to face Arsenal in place of Matip, as Liverpool try to move past a difficult few weeks.