Is Virgil van Dijk injured? Why Liverpool captain missed club's FA Cup match vs. Arsenal

Liverpool overcame the odds in Sunday's FA Cup match against Arsenal, securing a third-round win despite missing some of their biggest stars.

The Reds without Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk in their 2-0 victory on Sunday. The club knew it would be without Salah as he leads Team Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations. Van Dijk's absence was more unexpected, with the announcement coming just before the game.

Before the match, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp told reporters that he ruled out the Dutch defender due to an illness. According to Klopp, the club's staff had been dealing with a virus for the last "two, three weeks," though until Sunday, players had avoided the worst of it.

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Virgil van Dijk injury status

An illness forced van Dijk out of Sunday's match against Arsenal, though Klopp expressed optimism that the center back would be able to return for Liverpool's next match.

When is Liverpool's next match?

Liverpool take on Fulham in Leg 1 of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 3 p.m. ET.

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