Ex-Prem ref Mark Halsey says Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk should be banned for FOUR MATCHES after his dismissal at Newcastle.

Van Dijk will miss one game after being sent off in the first-half of Liverpool's 2-1 win on Tyneside.

But Halsey wrote for The Sun: "We must not tolerate any more abuse of match officials.

"So the Football Association has to clamp down and punish Virgil Van Dijk for his unacceptable behaviour at Newcastle on Sunday.

"The new Liverpool captain fell well below the standards set by one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League.

"I know Van Dijk's only been captain for three games since Jordan Henderson moved to Saudi Arabia but if I was Jurgen Klopp I would already be thinking, 'Is Virgil setting the right example?'

"Van Dijk's abusive actions at St James' Park also have an impact on the wider footballing world.

"The Dutch defender was correctly sent off by referee John Brooks for the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity on Alexander Isak.

"Van Dijk refused to accept the decision and took a total of two minutes 28 seconds to get down the tunnel from the moment he was dismissed.

"Van Dijk will rightly receive a one-match ban for the straight red card but I believe his suspension should be increased.

"Of course, this will depend on Brooks' official report but the abusive and insulting language used by the new Reds leader could be worthy of another RED CARD and result in an additional three-match ban.

"That would rule out Van Dijk for four matches in total - a fitting punishment for his poor conduct."