In a surprising decision ahead of Liverpool's Champions League clash against Austrian side LASK, manager Andoni Iraola has opted to leave captain Virgil van Dijk out of the starting eleven. This marks the first occasion since September 2023 that the 35-year-old Dutch defender has not started in an official Premier League or Champions League match, except for games with no tournament significance or instances where he was completely absent from the squad.
Before this, the last time Van Dijk found himself on the sidelines during a crucial match was in September 2023 when he served a suspension during the fixture against Wolverhampton. He also spent time on the bench during a friendly against Brighton in May 2025, although that match had no bearing on league standings as Liverpool had already secured the Premier League title by that point.
Despite his advancing years, Van Dijk remains an irreplaceable pillar in Liverpool's defence. Last season, he played 55 matches across all competitions, and in the current campaign, he had started all 11 matches without substitution up to this point.
Iraola's rotation strategy in the Champions League
The decision to rest the skipper in Linz stems from Iraola's desire to shake things up and manage squad fatigue amid a packed schedule. Alongside Van Dijk, three other changes were made to the lineup compared to their previous match, with Trey Nyonie, Rio Ngumoa, and Louis Kumas starting at the Raiffeisen Arena, while another player donned the captain's armband in Van Dijk's absence.
Following their victory in the opening round of the Champions League, Liverpool will be looking to build on that success in Austria, albeit without their leader in the starting lineup.
