Virgil van Dijk slammed by National media after Liverpool star ‘stupid’ in Netherlands draw
Virgil van Dijk has been ripped to shreds by Dutch media after the Liverpool captain received a red card for the Netherlands in the 1-1 draw against Hungary.
The 33-year-old received his marching orders late into the second half of the UEFA Nations League clash on Friday [10 October] after collecting two yellow cards within the space of three minutes.
Denzel Dumfries salvaged a draw for the visitors at the Puskas Arena with an 83rd-minute strike despite going down to 10 men after Roland Sallai gave Hungary the lead in the first half.
Dutch outlet Sportnieuws [11 October] were the harshest critics of van Dijk’s performance, labelling his sending off “stupid” and awarding him a 4.5/10 rating, writing: “Virgil van Dijk gets the lowest score of the selection, and that has to do with his second yellow card.
“The situation took place on the side of the field in a fairly harmless position. In the last minutes of the match, it is not possible for you as a captain to show your frustration by making a foul. He made a bad impression with that. While he further shared in the general malaise of Oranje as a pacesetter.”
Voetbal International [11 October] were slightly more lenient on the Reds captain but did award him a “failing grade” of a 5/10 match rating.
Algemeen Dagblad [12 October] agreed with the rating, writing: “No less than 105 ball contacts before the break. But it was all because Hungary retreated and kept the spaces small. After the break, two yellow cards in quick succession and therefore red.
“The captain will not be there in Germany, of course a suspension will follow. The first yellow card was for protesting, the second for a foul. An unpleasant evening for the Liverpool player.”
Virgil van Dijk must keep his composure for Liverpool
It is a rare sight to see Van Dijk losing his composure on the football pitch and the Reds will hope he leaves his hot temper on international duty with a hectic fixture schedule awaiting the side after the break.
Arne Slot will be put to the test at Anfield in the coming weeks and should his side reach mid-December, still fighting on all fronts there will no longer be any doubts about whether the Dutchman is the right man to lead the new Liverpool era.
Van Dijk, even at 33, will be integral to the Reds’ success this season and, his disciplinary record is near spotless barring the freak red card received during the 2-1 win against Newcastle United at St James’ Park last season.
The centre-back is essentially fighting for his Liverpool future this season as he plays out the final year of his Anfield contract alongside Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is increasingly touted with a move to Real Madrid.
Slot shouldn’t be concerned with Van Dijk’s performance, the Dutch media are right to vent their frustrations at the defender but as long as he returns from international duty unscathed, no one within the red half of Merseyside will doubt his ability to lead the side on the pitch.
In other Liverpool news, the Reds must resolve Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract situation after what he did for England.
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