Ball or man – did Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk deserve to be sent off against Newcastle?

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk leaves the pitch after being sent off against Newcastle in the Premier League in August 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was furious at the match officials after he was sent off in the first half of the Reds' Premier League game at Newcastle on Sunday.

The Dutch defender saw red for a challenge on Newcastle attacker Alexander Isak, appearing to clip the Swede before he won the ball.

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Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is the Weekend Editor of FourFourTwo. A European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.