Liverpool’s and Netherlands’s captain Virgil van Dijk has decided to return to Merseyside before the international break ends after receiving a second yellow card in the 1-1 draw against Hungary in the Nations League.
The Dutch defender got booked twice after making two fouls against opponents, but the player didn’t agree with the referee’s decision, especially with the first yellow card in which Van Dijk feels that it wasn’t a tough challenge for him to get booked.
After not being available to feature in the next Netherlands game, the 33-year-old has decided not to travel to Germany with his team and return to the Liverpool training center before the tough challenge against Chelsea in 20 October.
Speaking on his first red card with the national team, Virgil van Dijk said that it should have not happened, but he mostly got angry with the first yellow card which the defender feels should have not been shown to the player after the captain’s only one who can talk to the referee.
He continued explaining that his approach to the referee was very calm and respectful, but it was seen differently from the other person’s perspective.
Even the Dutch manager Ronald Koeman agreed with Virgil van Dijk’s words, saying that it was a frustrating moment in which the player should have not been sent out.
With the decision to leave the camp before the matches were over, Van Dijk sent a huge message to his teammates showing support for the next match against Germany. The player said that he will continue to show support for his country but for the moment the right decision will be to rest at his home before the busy fixture that awaits Arne Slot’s boys after the international break.
Another player who will be traveling to Liverpool early is the Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah who is expected to leave Egypt’s camp after scoring against Mauritania in the recent 2-0 win.
Egypt’s squad will travel to Mauritania for the fourth round in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifications, but their main player won’t be available to feature for his country after being reported that the stadium’s pitch is made of artificial turf, which could injure the player.
Mohamed Salah has already asked Egypt’s manager Hossam Hassan to rest for the next match so he could return to Liverpool a week before the start of the real challenge for Arne Slot.
