Jurgen Klopp insists he doesn't have first choices.

The Liverpool boss instead speaks warmly about the depth of his squad and the need to adopt a horses for courses approach to negotiate a gruelling schedule. No top-flight manager has rotated as much as Klopp during the first half of the season.

But there is no escaping the fact that for some members of Klopp's squad the £75million acquisition of Virgil van Dijk will be bad news.

Yes, Van Dijk may need time to get up to speed - both in terms of fitness and adjusting to the demands of playing for Klopp.

But the bottom line is that you don't spend £75million on a defender for him to warm the bench.

It will be Van Dijk plus one when the big occasions come along. It was out of respect to the likes of Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan that the signing of Van Dijk was only briefly mentioned prior to training at Melwood on Thursday.

But those three senior centre-backs will know deep down that securing a place in Klopp's line up is about to get a great deal tougher.

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Matip and Lovren has been Klopp's preferred defensive axis for most of his Anfield reign but the signing of Van Dijk changes that.

Klavan, whose recent form has been good, has given Liverpool excellent value for the £4.2million they paid Augsburg 18 months ago. But the 32-year-old is clearly the most likely to see his opportunities reduced.

Many fans will champion the claims of Joe Gomez to partner Van Dijk. The 20-year-old is enjoying a fine season and his long-term future is undoubtedly in the centre.

But Gomez is still learning his trade defensively and in the continued absence of Nathaniel Clyne, Klopp will need him to keep alternating right-back duties with Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Between now and May at least, fitness permitting, it's likely to be a battle between Lovren and Matip.

Aside from a couple of high-profile meltdowns, Lovren has actually delivered the more eye-catching performances of the two this season. The Croatian's problem is that he's prone to alarming lapses in concentration. A solid 89 minutes can be undone in the blink of an eye.

Matip in contrast has been much more steady, but the former Schalke defender hasn't come close to hitting the heights of his first six months at Anfield. He hasn't been helped by a number of niggling injury issues.

With Matip, who made his comeback after a month out in the 5-0 mauling of Swansea City on Boxing Day, you get the feeling there's so much more to come. And that's where Van Dijk could have a key role to play.

When the Cameroon international faced the media at Melwood shortly after his arrival in July 2016, he was asked whether he could be the defensive leader the Reds had been sadly lacking since Jamie Carragher had retired three years earlier.

His response was hardly emphatic.

"I think it is something I will have to grow into," said a man of few words.

Matip is calm and composed, he reads the game well, he's comfortable with the ball at his feet and at 6ft 5ins he wins his aerial duels. At his best, he provides both silk and steel.

He has got many qualities but he's not a vocal presence on the field. Neither is Lovren.

Both will benefit from having a more dominant personality alongside them. Matip has the greater potential.

"Virgil is a leader. He's always trying to help the defensive line," said his Netherlands team-mate Gini Wijnaldum.

Signing Van Dijk was a major coup for both Klopp and Liverpool. After a difficult spell, it could also prove to be the making of Matip at Anfield.