Virgil van Dijk charged with improper conduct over Newcastle United red card

The Reds skipper was given his marching orders by John Brooks for a last-man foul on Alexander Isak in the first half of that dramatic 2-1 win at St James' Park.

Van Dijk remonstrated with Brooks and the officiating team before begrudgingly heading down the tunnel, although he had to be ushered on his way by a bemused Jurgen Klopp.

The Dutchman appeared to have some choice words for the referees before disappearing out of sight, and he would serve a one-game suspension owing to his straight red card.

However, the FA have now charged Van Dijk with improper conduct, and it is also alleged that the 32-year-old "used abusive and/or insulting" language towards an official, which could see his ban extended.

"Virgil van Dijk has been charged with a breach of FA rule E3.1 following Liverpool's Premier League game against Newcastle United on Sunday, 27 August," an FA statement read.

"It's alleged that the defender acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official after being sent off in the 29th minute. Virgil van Dijk has until Friday, September 1 to respond to this charge."

Liverpool had already survived an early red card scare at St James' Park, as Trent Alexander-Arnold was cautioned for throwing the ball away before bringing down Anthony Gordon as the winger sped down the left wing.

Despite vociferous calls from Newcastle fans, Brooks opted against brandishing a second yellow card for Alexander-Arnold, although he did not hesitate to send Van Dijk to the changing rooms.

However, Klopp questioned whether there was enough contact between Van Dijk and Isak to warrant his immediate dismissal, telling reporters after the game: "I don't think it is a red card.

"It's pretty much no contact, very little, and it's on the way to the ball, but what can I say? The decision is like this, I cannot change it and I don't want it. It's just, would I give this in a training game? Definitely not. There are reasons why I am not a ref and they are."

The 10 men of Liverpool entered the break 1-0 down courtesy of Gordon's strike - which came from an Alexander-Arnold error - but Newcastle failed to add to their lead and were made to pay when Darwin Nunez came off the bench to net a late brace.

Van Dijk's red card was the second in the space of two weeks for Liverpool, who saw Alexis Mac Allister sent off for a challenge on Bournemouth's Ryan Christie two weekends ago, but the Argentine's punishment was overturned on appeal.

However, it is not clear if Liverpool plan to appeal against Van Dijk's sending off, which if upheld would rule him out of Sunday's home clash against Aston Villa.

Should the centre-back's suspension be extended, though, he could be at risk of missing imminent matches with Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United next month.