Liverpool have been drawn against Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League, but they will be without defender Virgil van Dijk for the first leg.
Danny Murphy believes it is ‘beneficial’ that Liverpool will be without the suspended Virgil van Dijk for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 encounter against Bayern Munich because he will be available for the away tie.
The Reds will host the German champions at Anfield in February before the return leg takes place at the Allianz Arena in early March after both sides were pitted against one another in Monday’s draw.
As reported by the Independent, Van Dijk picked up a costly yellow card during his side’s final group game encounter against Napoli which means he will miss the Anfield clash.
But former Liverpool man Murphy, who won the treble with the club under Gerard Houllier in 2001, put a positive spin on Van Dijk’s absence.
“I think actually it’s beneficial to Liverpool that they are going to be losing him for the home game rather than the away game,” Murphy told Jim White’s talkSPORT show on 17/12/2018.
“That is actually a little plus from the situation. Gomez should be back, and Matip. Actually, what Gomez, Matip and Loveren have shown recently is that they are all very capable.”
Netherlands international Van Dijk has been an ever-present for Jurgen Klopp in Europe and in the Premier League this season as the Merseyside club have kept 12 clean sheets from 23 matches.
After completing a £75million move to Anfield last January, Van Dijk has made a huge difference to this Liverpool side, especially from a defensive standpoint.
Klopp’s men, who are sitting top of the table after 17 matches, have the strongest defence in the top-tier this season with only seven goals conceded – three fewer than second-placed Manchester City.
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