Liverpool's Van Dijk rejects Rooney's 'lazy criticism'
Liverpool's Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 22, 2024. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has committed his future to the Premier League club by signing a new two-year contract on April 17, 2025. The Dutch centre-back follows Mohamed Salah in ending months of speculation by extending his stay at Anfield. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
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Liverpool
captain Virgil van Dijk has said Wayne Rooney blaming a lack of leadership for
the Anfield side's recent poor form is "lazy criticism".
The Reds won the
Premier League title last season in manager Arne Slot's first campaign in
charge but, after starting the 2025-26 campaign with five top-flight wins, they
have fallen off the pace.
They suffered a
fourth consecutive league defeat at Brentford last week and, following the loss
to the Bees, former England and Manchester United forward Rooney said Van Dijk
and team-mate Mohamed Salah had not "really led that team this
season".
"I didn't
hear him last year," Van Dijk said, external after Liverpool arrested their
slide with a win against Aston Villa on Saturday.
"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 it's 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 go well
you don'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."
In his latest
podcast Rooney says Van Dijk has been one the best defenders in the world over
the past five years, but stands by his comments.
"I've got
full respect for Virgil. I think he's a fantastic player," he said.
"My job now
as a pundit is to give my opinions on what I feel.
"I'm sure
if you ask him or Arne Slot, he probably hasn't been as good as he has been
over the last few years. That was my comment which I stick by."
Liverpool are
third in the Premier League and seven points behind leaders Arsenal heading
into a two crucial games this week.
Slot's side host
Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday before they visit Manchester
City in the Premier League on Sunday.
"I've heard
the reports as well about [Slot] being under pressure, but I don't think we
play at a club that makes rash decisions," added Van Dijk.
"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 we all have that feeling."
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