Liverpool captain van DIjk slams ‘lazy’ Rooney

Virgil van Dijk has fired back at Wayne Rooney after the former England captain questioned his and Mohamed Salah’s leadership during Liverpool’s recent dip in form. 

Following a commanding 2-0 win over Aston Villa that eased talk of crisis, the Dutch defender dismissed Rooney’s claims as “lazy criticism” and insisted he isn’t taking the remarks personally.

Rooney had suggested Van Dijk’s body language and leadership style, along with Salah’s, were a “big concern” amid Liverpool’s shaky run, but the Reds skipper was having none of it. 

“I didn’t hear him last year,” Van Dijk said pointedly, noting how silence reigns when results are good but criticism floods in during tougher spells. 

Calling the comments “a bit of a lazy criticism,” the centre-back emphasised that leadership at Liverpool is collective, not individual, and insisted there are no hard feelings despite the public jab. 

Van Dijk praised Rooney as a legend of the sport before stating that pundits have a job to do and opinions come with the territory. 

Beyond Rooney’s remarks, Van Dijk reflected on the scrutiny Liverpool face whenever performances dip. He highlighted how last season he and other senior players were hailed as leaders when results were flowing, only to be questioned the moment form dipped. 

The defender acknowledged criticism as part of life at a top club but maintained that responsibility and leadership don’t disappear with a few bad results. 

With speculation around manager Arne Slot also bubbling, Van Dijk insisted Liverpool aren’t a club that makes “rash decisions” and stressed belief, humility, and collective effort as the keys to riding out challenges. 

Confident in the squad’s resolve, he made clear that leadership does not falter in difficult moments, it strengthens, and Liverpool intend to prove that together.