Liverpool hopeful Virgil van Dijk will return for Carabao Cup semi-final
By
Daryl Finch
Daryl Finch
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admitted that he was hopeful that he would be able to call on the services of captain Virgil van Dijk for Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Fulham.
The Dutchman missed Sunday's FA Cup third-round victory over Arsenal because of illness, despite having travelled to the capital with the rest of the squad.
Jarell Quansah took the 32-year-old's place in the heart of the Reds defence alongside Ibrahima Konate and put in an excellent performance as the side earned a clean sheet in a 2-0 win.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 80th minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold's freekick forced a Jakub Kiwior own goal, before the Reds sealed victory through Luis Diaz's stoppage-time finish.
"He looked s**t!"
That said, despite the dogged performance, especially from his defenders, Klopp clearly is hoping for a swift return for his captain.
When asked by reporters following the game, he said he was "hopeful" he'd be back for the Fulham clash at Anfield, but admitted: "I don't know".
"He came and... it's difficult for Virgil to look s**t, but he did! So we sent him home again," he said.
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