Arne Slot has come to the defence of Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, urging the Dutch defender to view recent criticism of his leadership as a reflection of the high standards he has set at the club.
Slot’s comments come in the wake of Van Dijk’s public exchange with Wayne Rooney, who questioned the centre-back’s influence during Liverpool’s recent dip in form, remarks Van Dijk later dismissed as “lazy criticism.”
The Liverpool boss, speaking to Sky Sports, insisted that questioning Van Dijk’s leadership was misplaced, describing him as a figure who continues to command immense respect within the dressing room and beyond.
“I’ve picked captains at my former clubs where the age of the players were much younger,” Slot proclaimed. “Maybe not completely because they were already the leader of the team, but I’m hoping that could help them to become a leader of the team.
“But with Virgil, it’s so clear that he’s the leader of this team. When you walk through the AXA [training centre], when we start the training session, you can hear him, you can feel he’s our leader.
“He’s already been so important for this club for so many years, but I don’t think I’ve had many captains that were so vocal, so loud as he is. He’s been a very good captain for me and since he became the captain of this club.
“He sets the bar at 10 out of 10 and when he has a nine out of 10 [performance], he sometimes gets criticised as well… I think other players will get compliments for a nine out of 10, but he gets criticised for that.
“He had similar form to last season, but there were one or two moments this season where he could have done better defensively and he got criticised by that straightaway. Maybe he should it see as a compliment, because that’s where he set the bar from.”
Slot will be banking on Van Dijk’s leadership when Liverpool make the trip to Manchester on Sunday for a high-stakes Premier League clash against Pep Guardiola’s in-form Man City.
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.
