Virgil van Dijk reveals Sadio Mane talks as former…

Virgil van Dijk reveals Sadio Mane talks as former referee slams FA for Jurgen Klopp Liverpool ban

Here are your evening Liverpool headlines for Tuesday, November 15.

'I know for a fact' - Virgil van Dijk reveals Sadio Mane talks as Liverpool claim dismissed

Virgil van Dijk has dismissed any suggestion he was holding back for Liverpool ahead of the World Cup - as he sounded a gloomy injury note regarding former team-mate Sadio Mane.

Van Dijk flew out with the Holland squad on Tuesday to Qatar, where the centre-back will take part in his first international tournament having been absent from the European Championships last summer as he recovered from the serious knee injury that sidelined him for nine months.

The 31-year-old was one of several Liverpool players to have their form questioned during what the defender admits was a "strange" first part of the season ahead of the World Cup.

But Van Dijk is adamant he was absolutely committed in helping Jurgen Klopp's side steady the ship after their inconsistent opening few months to the campaign.

"The World Cup is massive but I can also assure that I've been playing all the (club) games, so if I was thinking about the World Cup during the last period I wouldn't play all the games," said the Holland captain. "I wanted to play all the games, because I focus on a game at a time. It is not as if I am holding back or thinking I am going to play 50% today. That was never the case."

Read the full story HERE.

'Waste of time' - Former Premier League referee slams FA for Jurgen Klopp Liverpool ban

A former Premier League referee has questioned the logic behind Jurgen Klopp's recent touchline ban - insisting such a decision would have acted as an advantage rather than a hindrance for the Liverpool manager.

Klopp was made to observe Saturday's 3-1 home victory over Southampton from a new vantage point after admitting to breaching FA rule E3 during the victory over Manchester City last month, where his dismay at the linesman's judgment not to award Mohamed Salah a free kick after an altercation with Bernardo Silva led to the Reds boss screaming in the official's face.

Referee Anthony Taylor immediately signalled for a halt in play and brandished a red card for Klopp, his first during his seven years in England, with an independent regulatory commission later handing the German a £30,000 fine for his actions.

But last week the Football Association successfully contested the punishment, which saw an independent appeal board upgrade the sanctions on Klopp to include an immediate one-match touchline ban. However, former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has blasted the FA for the punishment.

Read the full story HERE.

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