Club captain says comments easy to make if his side are not winning
Virgil van Dijk has responded to Wayne Rooney’s criticism of leadership in Liverpool’s squad, calling the former Manchester United striker’s comments “lazy”.
Rooney questioned the mentality and body language of senior players like Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah on his podcast last week, saying the team lacked leadership during their recent poor run of form.
“I didn’t hear him last year,” said Van Dijk. “It doesn’t hurt me, to be honest. I feel like just to come back to this particular player, he is obviously a legend, a big player of the game who inspired so many.
“I can say only positive things, but I feel like that comment is just, I would say, a bit of a lazy criticism.
“That’s my personal opinion. It’s easy to blame all the players, but he knows as well as everyone else we do it together, trying to help each other get out of this.”
Liverpool ended their run of four league defeats with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa, with goals from Salah and Ryan Gravenberch on either side of the break.
Much pressure had been piling on Arne Slot’s side as they looked a shadow of the team that won the title last season.
“Like I said last year, when things go well, you don’t hear that at all,” said Van Dijk. “It is what it is. Pundits have to do their job as well. So it is what it is – it’s part and parcel and everyone has an opinion.
“There’s no hard feelings. I don’t take it personal whatsoever.”
