Virgil van Dijk has hit back at Wayne Rooney after the former Manchester United forward questioned the leadership qualities of both the Dutch defender and his Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show podcast, Rooney claimed that neither Van Dijk nor Salah had “really led that team this season.”
Van Dijk dismissed those remarks as “lazy criticism,” insisting his focus remains firmly on helping Liverpool continue their revival under Arne Slot.
“I didn’t hear him last year,” Van Dijk said after Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa.
“It doesn’t hurt me. Just to come back to this particular player, obviously a legend, a big player of the game who inspired so many, I can say only positive things.”But I feel that comment is just, I would say, a bit of a lazy criticism.
“It’s easy to blame the other players, but he knows we do it together, trying to help each and every one of us to try to get out of this. Last year when things went well, you didn’t hear that at all. It is what it is.
“[Pundits] have to do that job. He has an opinion and we have to deal with it. There’s no hard feelings. I don’t take it personally.”
The Reds ended a run of four straight league defeats with a 2–0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday, a result that lifted them to third in the Premier League table and seven points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
Liverpool now turn their attention to the UEFA Champions League, where they face Real Madrid on Tuesday.
Van Dijk and co welcome the Spanish giants to Anfield where they will be looking to build on that 5-1 hammering of Eintracht Frankfurt and register consecutive victories for the first time in this season’s UCL league phase.
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
