Liverpool vs Bayern Preview: Van Dijk’s absence poorly timed in potential season-defining week
When Liverpool made Virgil van Dijk the most expensive defender of all time, few thought he would single-handily solve the club’s defensive frailties. Defensive errors plagued Liverpool prior to Van Dijk’s arrival and it was suggested they were just a consequence of the ‘crash-bang-wallop’ style demanded of Jurgen Klopp.
Contrary to popular opinion, however, Van Dijk has near enough done exactly that. Not only is he considered an elite centre-back, but the Dutchman must also be put in the same category as the best players in the world that are not Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. His presence at the back is worth as much as a 30-goal-a-season striker, of that there is no doubt. Aided by Alisson’s arrival over the summer, Liverpool now boast one of the meanest backlines in Europe.
Liverpool have not produced as many spectacular performances as Manchester City in the Premier League this season, but they have slogged out three points without conceding in games they wouldn’t have prior to Van Dijk’s arrival. Hard fought 1-0 victories over Brighton (twice), Everton and Huddersfield spring to mind and it’s no coincidence they have kept the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season (14).
Liverpool return to the Champions League on Tuesday and Klopp welcomes a familiar foe to Anfield. Against no team in Klopp’s managerial career has he lost more games than Bayern Munich (16), but this is arguably the best season to catch the underwhelming Bundesliga giants. He will, however, have to play the first leg without Van Dijk.
The 27-year-old is suspended after picking up a costly booking in their final Champions League group game. Since joining Liverpool more than 12 months ago, this is only the second big match Van Dijk will miss through injury or suspension and the first since January 2018. At that time he had only been at Liverpool a few weeks and it was too early to tell whether he could transform the club’s defence.
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With Joe Gomez out and Dejan Lovren a major doubt, Klopp has a problem at centre-back. Joel Matip, formerly of Schalke, will occupy one centre-back position. Like Klopp, Matip does not have particularly fond memories of playing Bayern form his Bundesliga days. The lanky defender has won just one of 15 previous encounters with the Bavarians and there have been some heavy defeats in that time. If Lovren misses out, Fabinho will have to fill the void, having played there on the odd occasion already this season.
Van Dijk’s absence comes at a bad time for Liverpool, as they gear up for a potential season-defining week. Bayern have underwhelmed under Niko Kovac this season but have gathered some momentum in recent weeks. Only five players in Champions League history have scored more goals than Robert Lewandowski (53) and Van Dijk would have been an obvious candidate to negate his threat in attack.
The fixtures come thick and fast for Liverpool, as Klopp takes his side to a rejuvenated Manchester United on Sunday. A trip to Old Trafford is their game in hand over City, who will contest the Carabao Cup final on the same day, and their chance to go three points clear at the top of the league. Seeds of doubt will start to creep in at Liverpool if they fail to secure a positive result on Tuesday and anything other than three points at Old Trafford, when Van Dijk will return.
These are typically the types of matches managers will regularly instruct their players to prepare for as if they are cup finals, but in Liverpool’s case this may not be the way to go. Klopp has lost his last six finals as a manager, two of which were against Bayern.
