Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk accepted the club’s advice and returned home from the Netherlands squad to get some rest. The Dutchman received a red card in the 1-1 draw against Hungary, facing a suspension for the Netherlands’ next match.
The Dutch squad faces Germany in the UEFA Nations League match on Monday evening before the October international break ends. While Van Dijk preferred to stay with his squad to act as a morale support, Liverpool wanted him to return.
Liverpool faces some very tough opponents in a very congested schedule once the club football returns to action next weekend. They will face Chelsea at Anfield first, followed by RB Leipzig and then Arsenal in a Premier League title-shaping clash.
The Reds will also face Brighton & Hove Albion in the back-to-back matches after the Arsenal game. They will face Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa before the November international break as the players enjoy a limited rest.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has good depth in the squad and the rotation policy will play a pivotal role. Nevertheless, the 33-year-old is a crucial presence in the defence, and Liverpool needs to play him as much as possible.
Speaking to the Dutch reporters (via VI.nl), Van Dijk explained that Liverpool convinced him to return from the Netherlands duties and rest. 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.”
The Reds have conceded only four goals from 10 matches in all competitions so far, winning nine of those games. Van Dijk has made nine appearances in all competitions this season, scoring one goal and accumulating two yellow cards.
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The 33-year-old only earned a rest in the Carabao Cup tie against West Ham United when Joe Gomez replaced him. Van Dijk has enjoyed Slot’s new tactical style that allows him to dictate and control the game more with his ball-playing abilities. The Dutch captain needs to maintain the high level of consistency that he has shown since last season for Liverpool to achieve their season’s ambition.
