Virgil van Dijk is SENT OFF against Newcastle as Liverpool are reduced to 10-men in nightmare start at St James’ Park…with Gary Neville insisting the Dutchman wouldn’t have made that challenge ‘a few years ago’
Virgil van Dijk is SENT OUT against Newcastle as Liverpool are reduced to 10 men in a nightmare start at St James’ Park…with Gary Neville insisting the Dutchman wouldn’t have made that challenge ‘a few years ago’
Liverpool’s erratic start against Newcastle at St James’ Park was compounded after captain Virgil van Dijk was sent off for a “brash” challenge on Alexander Isak.
The Dutchman got his marching orders less than three minutes after Anthony Gordon seized on a Trent Alexander-Arnold error to open the scoring.
Van Dijk came in through the back of Newcastle striker Isak in an attempt to win the ball after being hit on the wrong side of him.
Isak went down after feeling contact and giving referee John Brooks an easy call when he showed a red card, reducing Liverpool to 10 men.
Former Manchester United defender Gay Neville explained that Van Dijk showed immaturity in his decision-making and would not have attempted the same tackle during his prime ‘a few years ago’.
Virgil van Dijk (left) was sent off on Sunday as Liverpool trailed Newcastle at St James’ Park on Sunday
Van Dijk (not pictured) was shown a red card by referee John Brooks (blue top)
Commenting on Sky Sports, Neville said: ‘He (Van Dijk) is now starting to abuse the referee, Van Dijk. He’s not going to turn it around.
“We’ve all been there, you just have to keep going and you just have to get off the field and take your meds as hard as you can, but it’s a Virgil van Dijk who a few years ago wouldn’t have tried to win that.
“Let Isaac touch and just take it off him in the canal.”