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Virgil van Dijk misses Liverpool's clash with Manchester City in Premier League

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05:  Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool warms up prior to the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Everton at Anf
Image: Virgil van Dijk was ruled out of Liverpool's game with Manchester City due to a tight hamstring

Virgil van Dijk was absent from the Liverpool team that beat Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday.

The Dutch defender, who scored on his Reds debut against Everton in the FA Cup, is struggling with a tight hamstring and was not risked by manager Jurgen Klopp.

"He is a little bit injured - not really serious but too much," said Klopp. "It was immediately after the game [against Everton] he felt a little bit. We made an assessment.

"If it's the last game of the season maybe you take the risk but it's not the last game of the season obviously. That's why we can't take the risk."

Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton this month for a club-record £75m - and was also a target for Manchester City.

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Phil Thompson headed to Melwood to discuss Philippe Coutinho, Virgil van Dijk and Manchester City with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp

Klopp named Dejan Lovren in place of Van Dijk in the centre of defence with Loris Karius preferred to Simon Mignolet in goal.

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But Liverpool won the battle of the Premier League's entertainers, beating Pep Guardiola's side 4-3 in a thriller to go above Chelsea into third place.

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