Liverpool fans' dreams come true as Virgil van Dijk makes quick U-turn

Virgil van Dijk will by the Netherlands, despite initially wanting to stay.

on Friday – his first-ever red card on international duty. Having been booked by Lukas Fahndrich during the second half for dissent, received his second yellow for a foul just four minutes later.

The 33-year-old , particularly after receiving his first booking having felt he should have been able to dispute a decision with the referee as the Netherlands’ captain.

Nevertheless, Van Dijk will now have to serve a suspension, meaning he will miss his country’s match against Germany on Monday. Despite that, the defender seemed to indicate he would stay with Ronald Koeman’s side until the end of the international break.

“I will of course continue to participate,” he said after the game (via ). “It is important that I recover well personally, but that I am also there for the group.”

The Netherlands though has today confirmed that Van Dijk will leave their setup before Monday’s game. , the outfit said: "Captain Virgil van Dijk is leaving Oranje’s training camp. This was decided yesterday in Budapest. After his red card in the match against Hungary, he has been ruled out for the game against Germany on Monday.”

Van Dijk had initially wanted to stay with the international setup. Speaking out on the decision, he said: “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.”

Van Dijk’s absence will obviously be a blow for the Netherlands, but Liverpool fans will no doubt be delighted to see their captain making an early return to Merseyside.

after seeing Van Dijk given his marching orders, knowing it would prevent him from playing in his country’s second game of the international break and risking picking up an injury.

And now, they have the added bonus of the defender not being involved in Koeman’s training camp, further reducing the risk of him picking up a knock ahead of what is a crucial few weeks for Liverpool.

side will face their toughest tests yet when they return from the international break. First up for the Reds is a visit from Chelsea, before they travel to face RB Leipzig in the Champions League and Arsenal in a huge showdown in the Premier League title race.

A double-header against Brighton in the Carabao Cup and league follows before Liverpool hosts Xabi Alonso’s record-breaking Bayer Leverkusen in Europe, while Aston Villa visits Anfield in the final league outing before November’s international break.