Virgil Van Dijk is given an additional suspension following the red card incident

The captain will miss Liverpool’s return from the international break.

Even though they eventually came from behind against Newcastle United, it was still frustrating to see captain Virgil van Dijk sent off for his first Liverpool red card. The red card for fouling a player in the penalty area and preventing a scoring opportunity resulted in a one-match suspension.
As a result, Van Dijk missed Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa.

However, after the decision, van Dijk took the matter further by arguing on the pitch with referee John Brooks. After the match the FA fined him for disorderly conduct. Van Dijk had a week to refute this claim.

pic.twitter.com/Zg2Lgo8olQ

— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) August 29, 2023

There were fears that this accusation would cause Van Dijk to miss more games, and that is the case.

It was announced that he would miss Liverpool’s next match against Wolves and be fined £100,000 for the offence.

The official statement read: “Virgil van Dijk has been suspended for one match and fined £100,000 for breaching FA Rule E3 during Liverpool’s Premier League match against Newcastle United on Sunday August 27.
“The defender admitted acting inappropriately and using abusive and insulting words towards a match official following his sending off in the 29th minute and the sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent regulatory commission.” When the time comes.

Considering the series of unfortunate events that Liverpool faced in the first four games of the season, it is very fortunate that they had an easy schedule to start this season.
Despite having two players sent off in two of their four matches, the Reds still collected 10 points from a possible 12.

Barring any unforeseen events, van Dijk will be available for selection for their first Europa League match against LASK Linz in Austria on Thursday September 21.
His Premier League ban will then end the following Sunday when Liverpool face West Ham United.

More news……

Liverpool could make ‘third attempt’ to sign centre-back after £20mllion offer rejected

Liverpool have been linked with the move of former transfer target Lloyd Kelly

Although Jürgen Klopp publicly stated in May that he would sign a new central defender, Liverpool have failed to strengthen their defense this summer.
Instead, revamping the midfield became the priority as the Reds parted ways with £150m to sign Alex Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch.

Obviously they were looking for a young left-back, who could also play as a left-back and who would then fit well into their new preferred inverted full-back form. Levi Colwill had his admirers at Anfield after a successful season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion, but the England Under-21 international opted to sign a new long-term contract with Chelsea instead.

Had Liverpool not been caught off guard by Saudi interest in Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, they might have looked for an alternative to Colwill.
Instead, all that remains is to further strengthen the midfield, which has already included Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, with the arrival of Endo and Gravenberch.

However, their failure to sign a new centre-back has already come under scrutiny four games into the new Premier League season.

Klopp was left with Joel Matip and Joe Gomez as a pair in the 3-0 win over Aston Villa, with teenager Jarell Quansah the only substitute, while Ibrahima Konate is currently unavailable with a muscle injury, and Virgil van Dijk was waiting to see if His suspension following his sending off against Newcastle United was extended after being charged by the FA.

Admittedly, the current shortage is only short-lived. But considering that Van Dijk, Konate, Matip and Gomez have all been sidelined by injuries at different times in recent years and failed to step up their efforts, Liverpool are playing with fire.

Although the Reds failed to sign a centre-back this summer, they will have to do so within the next 12 months as Matip is set to leave the club next year when his contract expires.

Meanwhile, Van Dijk is not getting any younger, he is now 32 and his contract expires in two years, while Gomez and Konate have recently been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

It is inconceivable that Liverpool would lose their four senior centre-backs in quick succession.
But after the club have transformed both attack and midfield over the past 18 months, it’s clear that a defensive overhaul will be next on the club’s to-do list.

In the long term, the Reds need a successor to Van Dijk. But for now, this versatile and sought-after young centre-back would initially serve as both a replacement for Matip and an alternative to Andy Robertson on the left of Liverpool’s defensive trio.

And their quest for such a player could see them rekindle interest in a former target they’ve tried to sign twice before.

According to information from 90min, Liverpool are once again interested in Lloyd Kelly from AFC Bournemouth. The 24-year-old’s contract at the Vitality Stadium expires at the end of the 2023/24 season and he is in no rush to commit to a contract as Tottenham Hotspur rejected a £20million offer for his services on deadline day Renewal.

The report suggests Spurs will make another move for the defender in January and also credits Liverpool and Newcastle United with interest in the former England Under-21 international.

And while Bournemouth were hoping for more than £20m on deadline day, his contract status ensures that if he still doesn’t sign an extension, he will be in for one due to the limited time they would have had to find a viable replacement could be available mid-season reduced fee ahead of a potential Bosman departure next summer.

“He’s very valuable as a centre-back or left-back and we want him to be part of the team,” Bournemouth coach Adoni Iraola said of Kelly following Spurs’ offer last week, before hinting at a possible future exit.

“Sometimes there are situations that you cannot control and everyone involved must be happy that something is happening