Virgil van Dijk suspended for Liverpool's next Champions League match after Napoli yellow

The Dutch defender, 27, crunched into Dries Mertens after just ten minutes of the vital, final group stage game at Anfield.

Van Dijk initially got the ball cleanly, but followed though into the Belgian's ankle in what turned into a sickening clash.

Mertens was down for minutes and was eventually taken off the field, before reentering moments later.

But having already been booked twice in the group stage – in both games against Paris Saint-Germain – Van Dijk has now picked up three yellows in the six games.

That means the former Southampton ace will miss Liverpool's next Champions League game early next year.

Liverpool made it through to the last-16 after a nervy evening at Anfield.

Knowing they needed to win 1-0 – or by two goals – Sadio Mane had a goal ruled out for offside midway through the first-half.

But Mohamed Salah popped up with a beautiful solo goal after 34 minutes to ease nerves somewhat in Merseyside.

The Reds were then indebted to Alisson who made a point-blank save in the dying embers of the game as Liverpool spurned chance after chance but qualified for the last-16.

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