Liverpool new signing Virgil van Dijk 'healthy' enough to make debut against Everton, says Jurgen Klopp
Van Dijk has not played appearing for former club Southampton on 13 December
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Your support makes all the difference.Virgil van Dijk could make his Liverpool debut in Friday’s FA Cup third round Merseyside derby against Everton, Jürgen Klopp has confirmed.
Van Dijk became the most expensive defender of all-time when he completed his long-awaited move to Anfield on 1 January, though was not registered in time to be involved in the 2-1 victory away to Burnley later the same day.
The £75m signing from Southampton has not played a competitive match since 13 December but took part in his first training session with his new team-mates on Wednesday night.
Klopp will be without both Philippe Coutinho and Mohamed Salah against Everton, who are struggling with thigh and groin injuries respectively, but at his pre-match press conference on Thursday he suggested that Van Dijk may be able to make his bow.
“Mo and Phil are not available so it is not possible. With Virgil it is different,” the Liverpool manager said. “He is obviously healthy and I have to make a decision for this game.
“It is clear centre-half is a position which usually needs to be tuned to the rest of the team with the kind of defending.”
Klopp may yet decide against fielding Van Dijk given his lack of recent playing time but insisted he would play his strongest available side, having previously been accused of selecting weakened teams in the FA Cup.
“I can imagine everyone is desperate to see him on the pitch but from our point of view there is no rush and it is much more important how many good games he can play for us.
“It is not decided because we have to wait for last updates on each position but the line-up will be a line-up which shows all the respect we have for the FA Cup.”
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