Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was absent from the squad for Sunday's FA Cup third round clash against Arsenal.
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Article continues below
Article continues below
- Van Dijk missing from Reds squad
- Captain absent because of illness
- Jarell Quansah replaced Dutchman
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The defender was not named in the starting XI or as a substitute for the headline clash at the Emirates Stadium. Young defender Jarell Quansah took his place in the heart of the back line, with Jurgen Klopp offering an explanation for Van Dijk's absence before kick-off.
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WHAT JURGEN KLOPP SAID
Klopp said to : "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.
"And now Virg got the virus and we have to see how he feels tomorrow and if he is available for the next one. But for today there was no chance, so we didn't even try it."
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Van Dijk's illness deprived Jurgen Klopp's side of a vital component. The Netherlands international has featured in all but two of the Reds' Premier League matches this season, only missing out because of a red card suspension in September.
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DID YOU KNOW?
With Joel Matip already out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, 20-year-old Quansah was given the nod to partner Ibrahima Konate at centre-back for the trip to north London. The academy graduate has already featured in six Premier League matches this term and five Europa League games.
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