After the 1-0 victory in the Champions League over Real Madrid, Van Dijk joined the analysts Amazon Prime. The channel had – cleverly and cunningly – invited Rooney as one of the old. Rooney recently said in his podcast that he did not think Mohamed Salah and Van Dijk “lead the Liverpool team this year.” “I think the body language is a bit different than what we are used to from them. These are the two top players on the team and the body language is not right.”
Liverpool records a well-deserved victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League
Van Dijk responded to this this weekend after the victory over Aston Villa by calling the criticism from the Englishman and others “lazy”. On Tuesday, the Dutch international said with Rooney next to him: “Of course criticism is justified if you lose four or five matches in a row with Liverpool. That is normal. But I thought what happened was over the top.”
Virgil van Dijk hits back after Liverpool victory: ‘Some opinions are downright ridiculous’
“That is of course also because we live in a world where there are so many platforms, on which so many people can say things that are then picked up and magnified. But in general I think it is good that former players who have played at the highest level and have experienced difficult moments, put many things into perspective,” said Van Dijk.
Liverpool encouraged
Then it was up to Rooney to respond, which he initially did with a joke. “I won’t say anything from now on, I think I have encouraged Liverpool to one winning streak!”, said the former striker of Liverpool’s rivals Everton and Manchester United.
Then he was a bit more serious. “My criticism was clear: when you win the Premier League and lose a series of games the following season… you don’t expect that from the Liverpool of recent years. Virgil as captain, that is your opportunity to lead the players, and that is what I meant.”
‘I certainly take my responsibility’
Van Dijk was not immediately satisfied with that explanation. “If you watch the matches, I certainly take my responsibility. I think the comment that since I signed the new contract ‘I’m letting it slide’ is a bit… (doesn’t finish his sentence, ed.) But that’s my personal opinion. I want to perform for the team and the club and when we go through a difficult period as a team, it hurts me a lot and I want to turn the tide.”
Presenter Gabby Logan then concluded that there was a ‘truce’ between the two. “He might even be on your podcast,” she said jokingly to Rooney.
| Position | Team | P | GS | W | V | G | DS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +11 | |
| 2 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +11 | |
| 3 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +9 | |
| 4 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +9 | |
| 5 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +6 | |
| 6 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +5 | |
| 7 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | +5 | |
| 8 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +5 | |
| 9 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +4 | |
| 10 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +3 | |
| 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +6 | |
| 12 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +5 | |
| 13 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +3 | |
| 14 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | +1 | |
| 15 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +1 | |
| 16 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| 17 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +2 | |
| 18 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2 | |
| 19 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -3 | |
| 20 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -4 | |
| 21 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -5 | |
| 22 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +2 | |
| 23 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -1 | |
| 24 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -2 | |
| 25 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -3 | |
| 26 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | -8 | |
| 27 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -3 | |
| 28 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | |
| 29 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -5 | |
| 30 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -6 | |
| 31 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -7 | |
| 32 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -3 | |
| 33 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -8 | |
| 34 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -8 | |
| 35 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -5 | |
| 36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -10 |