HOW VAN DIJK INJURY HURTS REDS ATTACK

‘LOSING Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez is one of the big reasons why Liverpool are not attacking as well,’ says Michael Owen.

That’s because Van Dijk’s range of long passing has a huge impact on Liverpool’s play: he starts attacks, it helps beat the opposition press and also moves them upfield to allow his team-mates to apply their own press. Liverpool have scored just once in their last three PL games. JAMES SHARPE analyses how Van Dijk’s play influences Liverpool’s attack as well as defence.