Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is out of the first-leg of their Champions League round 16 clash.

The Sun says 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.