Explained: Why Virgil van Dijk was left out of Liverpool squad to face Arsenal in huge FA Cup third-round encounter

The defender was not named in the starting XI or as a substitute for the headline clash at the Emirates Stadium. Young defender Jarell Quansah took his place in the heart of the back line, with Jurgen Klopp offering an explanation for Van Dijk's absence before kick-off.

Klopp said to BBC Sport: "Virg is ill. We were actually kind of lucky in the last two, three weeks because a lot of staff had it but not the players.

"And now Virg got the virus and we have to see how he feels tomorrow and if he is available for the next one. But for today there was no chance, so we didn't even try it."

Van Dijk's illness deprived Jurgen Klopp's side of a vital component. The Netherlands international has featured in all but two of the Reds' Premier League matches this season, only missing out because of a red card suspension in September.

With Joel Matip already out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, 20-year-old Quansah was given the nod to partner Ibrahima Konate at centre-back for the trip to north London. The academy graduate has already featured in six Premier League matches this term and five Europa League games.

Liverpool managed to earn a 2-0 victory over Arsenal despite Van Dijk's absence, with a Jakub Kiwior own goal and a Luiz Diaz strike seeing the visitors through to the FA Cup fourth round. Klopp was again asked about Van Dijk after the final whistle, and hinted he would have been relived by Liverpool's performance, adding to BBC Sport: "I think that game tonight helped him too."

The Reds skipper could be back in the fold when Liverpool take on Fulham in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Wednesday.