Although suspension should have sidelined him, expectations were that he’d still be part of his national setup. However, plans shifted when Van Dijk opted out and headed back to Merseyside sooner than anticipated, ahead of Liverpool’s impending clash with Chelsea at Anfield – a move that has drawn flak back in the Netherlands.
On his choice to depart early, Van Dijk shared: “I wanted to stay with the team to give the lads my support, but now I have decided it is better to go home. A lot has been said about the massive pile of matches we are playing in this period and all the travelling. This is a good moment to get some rest. With all the matches we have coming, I fully understand that the club thinks it is a good moment to get some rest.”
Reports from Dutch outlet De Telegraaf suggest that Slot could’ve swayed the situation, inferring that he shot a text to the defender right after the Hungary fixture. Moreover, it’s indicated that Van Dijk had initially intended to stick around with his squad until Liverpool stepped in.
The red card shown to Van Dijk looked like it might cost Ronald Koeman’s team dearly, as they were trailing 1-0 after Roland Sallai’s volley in the first half. However, a late header from Denzel Dumfries off Cody Gakpo’s free-kick in the 83rd minute salvaged a draw for the Dutch side.
Van Dijk expressed frustration over his dismissal, which was his first in 77 appearances for the Netherlands. The Liverpool defender received his initial booking for dissent when he approached referee Lukas Fahndrich to protest a foul on Donyell Malen.
