Fortress Anfield has become even more impenetrable for visiting sides in the 13 months since Liverpool made Virgil van Dijk the world’s most expensive defender, but the commanding Dutchman’s absence for Bayern Munich’s visit in the Champions League leaves Jurgen Klopp with a selection headache. Van Dijk is banned for the last 16, first leg on Tuesday after being booked three times as last season’s finalists squeezed through the group stages by the narrowest of margins thanks to more goals scored than Napoli. “Of course over the years I have watched a lot of Bayern games and this season as well,” said Klopp. As Van Dijk kept the back door shut, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane fired Liverpool to the Champions League final last season. Without their talismanic defender, all three will need to shine more than ever to give Klopp’s men a lead to defend when Van Dijk returns for the second leg on March 13.

Source: Punch February 18, 2019 08:03 UTC