Sources: Liverpool plan to omit Van Dijk from certain matches this season

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola is keen to manage the minutes of club captain Virgil van Dijk wherever possible this season, sources have told Football Insider.

The boss wants to give the 35-year-old the chance to rest whenever he can, and is not likely to include him in any domestic cup games.

However, the centre-back's "influence" at Anfield is still considered strong enough that when league games come around, he will start if he is fit.

The veteran played every single minute of the Premier League campaign last term, and sources say that a repeat of that feat cannot be ruled out if he stays injury-free.

Van Dijk is out of contract at Anfield next summer, but remains just as important as ever for Iraola and the team.

He played a key role in the club's third clean sheet of the league season last weekend, and shows no sign of slowing down right now.

Liverpool lack centre-back depth

Liverpool have been short of centre-back so far this season, and Joe Gomez's recent return to the matchday squad has been a welcome boost.

Nevertheless, the Reds still only have four natural centre-backs available at the moment, and Ronald Araujo has typically been used at right-back of late.

With that in mind, they are still reliant on Van Dijk right now, and he has rewarded them with consistent performance so far this term.

Iraola has an element of concern over the veteran's fitness potentially breaking down, but he also knows that he cannot rotate him in and out of the side if he wants success.

Van Dijk's contract situation is another issue for the club altogether, in which they must weigh up how many years he has left at the top level.

Florian Wirtz wants to join Bayern Munich

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown recently told Football Insider that Florian Wirtz would welcome a move back to Bayern Munich, if they can agree a deal with Liverpool.

The Bundesliga giants remain big admirers of the 23-year-old, and are prepared to take him back to an environment where he is comfortable with the style of football.

Brown believes that most of Wirtz's struggles at Anfield can be attributed to him having difficulty adapting to the physical requirements of the Premier League.

The ex-recruitment man does not expect a deal to be struck mid-season, but could easily see a transfer taking place next summer.