Champions League

Life without Van Dijk - How Liverpool could line-up against Ajax

The Premier League champions will be without their talismanic centre-back for the majority of the season after he suffered a serious injury

10:00am on Wednesday 21st October 2020
By Martin Macdonald

At the weekend, Liverpool suffered a blow arguably bigger than any loss as Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for the majority of the season due to a knee injury.

During the Merseyside derby, the Dutchman's knee could be seen inverting at a gruesome angle under a ridiculous challenge from Jordan Pickford.

With his absence sure to be felt, Liverpool will have to rally at the back.

For the foreseeable future, it will probably by Joel Matip and Joe Gomez left to pick up the pieces, though Fabinho has proven he is more than capable of stepping in at centre-back if required.

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For the match against Ajax, it will likely be the case that the Brazilian starts in defence, with Matip picking up an issue in the derby too.

Another victim of the derby battle was Thiago, who emerged on the wrong end of a shocking tackle from Richarlison. Any issue with the former Bayern man is not believed to be serious, but he could sit this one out which would open up a space for Naby Keita in midfield.

Alisson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will once again miss out.

In attack, it should be as-you-were for Jurgen Klopp, with the usual trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Mohamed Salah partnering up top.