‘Serious’ - Liverpool dealt double blow ahead of Aston Villa Premier League clash with two key men ruled out

Liverpool will be without first-choice centre-back pairing Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate for Sunday’s visit of Aston Villa due to suspension and injury.

Van Dijk was sent off for the first time in his Liverpool career as he was deemed to have denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity when he brought Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak down on the edge of the penalty area during Sunday’s dramatic Premier League clash.

He was shown a straight red card but because he was guilty of a professional foul, he will miss just one game as things stand. He could be banned for longer if was deemed to have committed an act of dissent when leaving the pitch after being involved in a heated discussion with referee John Brooks.

Meanwhile Konate missed the trip to St James’ Park as the 10-man Reds came from a goal down to win 2-1 thanks to a brilliant Darwin Nunez double.

Speaking before kick off on the Premier League’s international broadcast, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp admitted the Frenchman is likely to be out until after the international break.

The Liverpool boss said: “He will be back after the international break. Not too serious, but serious enough. Maybe a chance for [Aston] Villa, but I expect him to be back after the international break.”

Villa’s visit to Anfield is Liverpool’s last game before the September internationals with Liverpool returning to action at Wolves on September 16. It means the pair are set to be available for that trip to Wolves, which kicks off at 12.30pm.

Joel Matip and Joe Gomez are likely to line up against Unai Emery’s side who, after losing 5-1 at Newcastle on the opening day, have scored 12 goals in their last three games in all competitions.

They got their season up and running with a 4-0 hammering of Everton before dispatching Scottish side Hibs 5-0 in the Europa Conference League play-off round.

That was followed up with a 3-1 win at newly-promoted Burnley. Villa welcome Hibs to Birmingham on Thursday but will likely to be able to rest some of their key men ahead of their Anfield visit given their comfortable five-goal cushion from the first leg.

Matty Cash scored a first-half double for Villa at Turf Moor but Lyle Foster pulled a goal back for the host two minutes into the second half.

Moussa Diaby made it two goals in three Premier League games following his arrival this summer to take the game beyond Burnley and wrap up three points for Villa.