Liverpool’s Van Dijk primed for derby debut
Virgil van Dijk, the world’s most expensive defender, could make his Liverpool debut against local rival Everton at Anfield in Friday night’s opening FA Cup third-round clash.
The center-back is eligible to play after his registration was finalized following his protracted 75 million pound ($101.8 million) move from Southampton.
Manager Juergen Klopp has yet to say whether he intends to plunge the Dutchman straight into action, particularly in such a high-profile game, but Van Dijk is likely to feature at least on the bench.
The shape of Klopp’s team is further complicated by British media reports that Barcelona is about to table a bid for Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho. Meanwhile, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane may not feature in Friday’s game after the German agreed to allow them to attend the African Footballer of the Year awards in Ghana on Thursday.
With Manchester City so far ahead in the Premier League, the FA Cup, which Liverpool last won in 2006, may represent Klopp’s best chance of winning his first trophy at the club, although Everton always represent a formidable barrier.
All four previous Anfield derbies in the FA Cup, stretching back 116 years, have been drawn, most recently 1-1 in 2009 when Everton won the replay.
Friday’s other tie pits 2016 champion Manchester United against Derby County, which is second in the Championship, while neighbor City plays Burnley on Saturday.
To the dismay of purists, the draw has been staggered over four days with Monday’s final game between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace marking the first time video assistant referee will be used in a major English game.
The technology will be restricted to three “game-changing” situations – goals, penalties and straight red cards – at a time when referees have been criticized for getting high-profile decisions wrong.
Last week in the league, Arsenal was on the wrong end of a harsh handball penalty decision which led to a late equalizer for West Bromwich Albion. The FA Cup holder will be hoping for better luck when it begins its defense of a competition it has won three times in the past four years at managerless Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Shrewsbury is among the lower division teams scenting a traditional thirdround upset against higher-ranked opponents.
Another Premier League struggler, West Brom, may be troubled at League Two side Exeter City while last season’s losing finalist Chelsea travels to Norwich City from the Championship.
Unusually, no non-league teams have made it through to the third round but the draw has pitted several players against their former teams.
The best known is Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy, who returns to Fleetwood Town, which was a non-league side when the striker left in 2012 after scoring 31 goals in 36 games.
Perhaps the third-round’s biggest cheer will be heard at Brentford’s Griffin Park, where Republic of Ireland international Alan Judge is slated for his first game in 21 months, against his former side Notts County.
The midfielder has not played since breaking his leg in three places against Ipswich Town in April 2016, but has been told by manager Dean Smith that he will play on Saturday.
Judge’s horrific injury required two operations to heal and deprived the 29-year-old of the chance to appear at Euro 2016 and a likely Premier League move. (Reuters)