Danny Murphy explains why it is ‘beneficial’ Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk will miss first leg of Champions League tie with Bayern Munich

Danny Murphy explains why it is ‘beneficial’ Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk will miss first leg of Champions League tie with Bayern Munich
Danny Murphy believes it is beneficial Liverpool will be without Virgil van Dijk for the home leg of their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.The Bundesliga champions will travel to Anfield in February for a titanic clash between two of Europes best sides for a place in the quarter-finals.2

Van Dijk looks horrified after receiving the yellow card which means he will miss the first leg

However, the Reds will be without their Dutch defender after he was shown a controversial yellow card for a tackle on Dries Mertens in the final group game against Napoli.Murphy, who spent seven years with the Reds, believes the timing of the subsequent suspension for Van Dijk is beneficial for the Reds.With the away leg in Germany two weeks later, the worlds most expensive defender would be available after serving the one-match ban.He said on the Jim White Show: I think actually that its beneficial to Liverpool that they are going to be losing him for the home game rather than the away game.2

The Netherlands international won the ball, but caught the man

Thats actually a little plus from the situation.I thought he was dreadfully unlucky to be honest. I was not of the opinion that he has done anything wrong with that tackle at all.Gomez should be back I think and Matip and actually what Gomez, Matip and [Dejan] Lovren have shown recently is that they are all very capable.Both Gomez and Matip have suffered injuries in recent weeks, with Dejan Lovren partnering van Dijk at the back. However, in three months the current injury crisis at the back is set to subside and Murphy believes Jurgen Klopp has more than enough to cope for one game.Are they going to be better with Van Dijk? Yes, but they cant have him, he continued.So what theyll do is what they normally do whether Van Dijk is playing or not.Theyll be on the front foot, theyll go after them, theyll make them play, theyll press all over the pitch and the defenders will have to cope.Ideally, you would like Van Dijk in this type of game. But if you were going to choose one (if they were allowed) you wo0uld choose him to miss the home one because they will be on top.

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Manchester United looked more the part against Liverpool, and with Arsenal looking more solid at last, you would have to think it is more between these two at the moment. United have the know how to finish the job from here, this is the time of the season when they have historically put their foot down and pulled away.
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