numbers
Liverpool stats with and without injured Virgil van Dijk show just how much Reds will miss defender who faces ENTIRE season sidelined after Jordan Pickford tackle
Virgil van Dijk is set for an extended period on the sidelines and will be a huge miss for Liverpool.
The Netherlands centre-back damaged his anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday’s Merseyside derby as a result of Jordan Pickford’s reckless challenge, just ten minutes into the match.
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The Everton goalkeeper escaped any form of punishment for the incident, which was not even checked by VAR.
Van Dijk required surgery on his knee and is set for months on the sidelines; in fact, he could well not play again this season!
Losing the imperious defender is a huge blow for Jurgen Klopp, and the injury dents Liverpool hopes of retaining the Premier League title.
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The 29-year-old is one of the best defenders in world football and finished runner-up behind Lionel Messi in last year’s Ballon d’Or.
Van Dijk’s £75million arrival from Southampton in January 2018 transformed Liverpool into Champions League and Premier League winners.
He’s missed few games during his time at Anfield, but when he has been absent the Reds have struggled to replicate their usual form.
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In nearly three years at Anfield, Van Dijk has missed only 13 games - and played 130.
And all the statistics show Liverpool are worse off without him - which is a huge worry for the Reds moving forward.
Klopp’s side have won just 46 per cent of games without the defender, compared to 70 per cent with him.
They also score fewer goals and concede more on average when Van Dijk is missing.
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Tony Cascarino told Monday’s talkSPORT Breakfast that the Dutch centre-back is ‘irreplaceable’ for the Reds and losing Van Dijk for potentially the rest of the season is ‘a huge blow they will not overcome’.
“What is the loss? Just look at the stats, the stats are ridiculous,” he said.
“With Van Dijk in the team and with Van Dijk out of your team, it’s a completely different side.
“You’ve lost a passer, a great header of the ball, you’ve lost a goalscorer – only Patrick van Aanholt has got more Premier League goals as a defender [11] since Van Dijk joined Liverpool [10].
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“Every part of his game is a huge loss for Liverpool, and to find a replacement is impossible because he’s the best defender in the world.
“It’s a loss you can’t explain in five minutes, if you look at the numbers in every department, goals conceded, games won and lost with him in the team, it’s such a huge loss, he’s irreplaceable.
“It’s a huge blow that I don’t think they’ll overcome. It’ll cost them the title. I can’t see them winning it now.”
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