Liverpool players once again endured a very mixed day of international football on Friday.
The Reds had five players in action on Thursday, with three ending up on the winning side and two suffering defeat.
On Friday – and early Saturday morning – six of the current Liverpool squad featured for their national sides.
This time, four drew, one won and the other lost. On-loan Giorgi Mamardashvili was also in action for Georgia, with his team falling to a 1-0 defeat against Ukraine.
But while Darwin Nunez also lost against Peru for Uruguay, the worst moment of the day’s action game for Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk was sent off for the Netherlands as his team drew 1-1 against Hungary. And with the Liverpool captain now set to miss Monday’s big clash with Germany, it has been confirmed whether he will instead make an early return to Merseyside.
Virgil van Dijk set for Liverpool return
It is indeed very rare to see Van Dijk pick up a red card. On what was his 77th cap for his country, this was the first time the 33-year-old had been given his marching orders.
Liverpool fans will remember Van Dijk suffering the same fate last season, when he was sent off for a late challenge on Alexander Isak against Newcastle United.
This one was very different to that. Virgil’s first yellow card was for what the referee felt was complaining too ferociously after a free-kick decision against the Netherlands.
The second was for a trip on Kevin Csoboth, who was racing away down the Hungary left. While the first was certainly harsh on Van Dijk, the second probably wasn’t.
Although it is obviously bad news for the Dutch to be missing their captain against Germany next week, there had been some hope amongst Liverpool fans that Van Dijk would now return home and get a proper rest ahead of facing Chelsea next Sunday.
And taking to X on Saturday morning, the official Netherlands X account have confirmed that the centre-back will leave their camp and come back to Liverpool.
“Captain Virgil van Dijk is leaving Oranje’s training camp. This was decided yesterday in Budapest,” says the post.
“After his red card in the match against Hungary, he has been ruled out for the game against Germany on Monday.”
Netherlands loss is Liverpool’s gain
Van Dijk has been imperious this season. As a result, it was surprising to see him dive in on Csoboth while already on a yellow card.
Proud as he is of captaining his nation whenever he does so, Virgil will no doubt be frustrated and angry with himself for giving the referee a decision to make.
Nevertheless, there is no other way to paint this but as good news for Liverpool.
At 33, Van Dijk is not getting any younger and there is a strong argument that his minutes should start to managed for both club and country. Still so important for both, though, Van Dijk rarely gets a rest.
He won’t be pleased to be getting one now, but as we continue to see big players go down with bad injuries this season, this is certainly a big positive for Liverpool.
