What Virgil van Dijk said to referee that led to red card and early return to Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk has revealed what he said to the referee that ultimately led to him receiving the first red card of his international career.

The Liverpool captain is set to return to Merseyside early after being sent off during the Netherlands’ 1-1 draw with Hungary on Friday . It was confirmed after the game that Van Dijk would leave his nation’s training camp, having been suspended for Monday’s game against Germany.

The 33-year-old was given his marching orders by referee Lukas Fahndrich after picking up two bookings within the space of just four minutes during the second half. The first of those yellow cards was issued for dissent after Van Dijk protested with the official after Donyell Malen was brought down as he made his way toward goal.

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A foul just moments later led to the defender being dismissed, with Van Dijk admitting afterward that he was ‘angry’ with the awarding of his first yellow. And the Liverpool skipper has also lifted the lid on what it was that he said to Fahndrich, which the Swiss official deemed worthy of a booking.

"I said here first: 'Last man', when Malen broke through,” Van Dijk told reporters (via Voetbalzone ). “I thought it was red, I don't think he [the Hungarian defender] had any intention of playing the ball.

"I don't understand that card for me personally. Especially because you are often reminded that we are the ones who are allowed to communicate as captains. Of course, I don't just go to a referee when we are behind to have my say. I just did it in a respectful way. And in the end, he gives it to me."

Van Dijk isn’t the only Liverpool player making an early return to Merseyside. Mohamed Salah is also set report back before the end of the international break, having been offered the chance to sit out Egypt’s game in Mauritania due to fears over the nation’s artificial pitch.

Kostas Tsimikas will join the pair, having missed both of Greece’s games through illness, while Curtis Jones has not traveled to Finland with England for personal reasons .

Liverpool.com says: You suspect that might not be the only thing Van Dijk said to the referee, especially if it was deemed enough to show him a yellow card. Not that Liverpool fans will be complaining much, given it removes any risk of him coming back to Anfield injured.