Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has stated that Wayne Rooney’s criticism of a lack of leadership for the team’s recent weak spell is “lazy criticism”.
The Reds won the Premier League title last season in manager Arne Slot’s first season, but after starting the 2025/26 season with five wins, they have fallen behind.
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They suffered their fourth straight league defeat to Brentford last week, and after the defeat to the Bees, former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney stated that Van Dijk and teammate Mohamed Salah have not “really led that team this season”.
“I didn’t hear him last year,” Van Dijk said after Liverpool stopped their slump with a win against Aston Villa on Saturday.
“It doesn’t hurt me. To get back to this player, who is obviously a legend and a great player who has inspired so many, I can only say positive things, but I feel that comment is what I would call a bit of lazy criticism.”
“It’s easy to blame the other players, but he knows we’re doing it together, and he’s trying to help every single one of us get out of this. Last year when things are going well, you don’t hear anything about it at all. It is what it is.”
“[Experts] have to do that job. He has an opinion, and we have to deal with it. There are no hard feelings. I don’t take it personally.”
In his latest podcast, Rooney says that Van Dijk has been one of the best defenders in the world for the past five years, but stands by his statements.
“I have full respect for Virgil. I think he’s a fantastic player,” he said.
“My job now as an expert is to give my opinions about what I feel.”
“I’m sure if you ask him or Arne Slot, he probably hasn’t been as good as he has been in recent years. That was my comment, which I stand by.”
Liverpool are third in the Premier League and seven points behind league leaders Arsenal before two crucial games this week.
Slot’s team hosts Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, before visiting Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
“I’ve also heard the reports that [Slot] is under pressure, but I don’t think we’re playing for a club that makes rash decisions,” Van Dijk added.
“We all felt that we can work our way out of this. It’s not a guarantee, but we can do it together. As long as we believe, stay humble, and keep working, we can do it, and that’s the feeling we all have.”
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