The Reds have been enjoying a stellar Premier League campaign, with Arne Slot’s squad sitting 15 points ahead of Arsenal—who have a game in hand—after Liverpool’s victory over Southampton last weekend. However, their Champions League journey came to an abrupt halt following a penalty shootout loss to PSG in the last-16 stage.
Liverpool initially secured a narrow 1-0 win at Parc des Princes, but in the second leg at Anfield, they were stunned by an early goal from Ousmane Dembélé. The French winger capitalized on defensive lapses, a moment that drew sharp criticism from Rooney, who pointed the finger at Van Dijk.
Speaking at half-time, Rooney said:
“This goal from Liverpool’s point of view is wrong in so many different ways. They are trying to press the ball and Van Dijk gets lazy. If you keep your eyes on Van Dijk here, he is walking. He leaves a massive gap for Dembélé. All he has to do is come across to Dembélé because there is no other pass for Paris to get out, but he doesn’t. Now Dembélé has got a lot of space. And Konaté again, he doesn’t switch on. Dembélé makes a good run and it’s a tap-in.”
Van Dijk Fires Back
Van Dijk, never one to shy away from criticism, addressed Rooney’s remarks after the match.
“Someone told me about this. I think at that particular moment I’m helping [Andy] Robertson, telling him to clear the outside, I take the inside. I’m even explaining now what I thought at that moment, but if he thought it was lazy, then he gave his opinion. That’s it. Did you think it was lazy?”
The Dutch defender, who has been a key figure in Liverpool’s title charge, acknowledged that modern players must learn to deal with constant scrutiny.
“There were so many challenges years ago for those players, and obviously it’s a challenge for the players nowadays that you have to deal with opinions here and there, and it gets blown up all the time.”
Despite the criticism, Van Dijk insists that the squad remains focused on their objectives.
“Looking at what I see in the dressing room, I think the boys are doing well in terms of keeping their heads down and focusing on the task ahead. That’s the most important thing I want to see.”
Contract Uncertainty Looms for Van Dijk, Salah, and Alexander-Arnold
Aside from the heated debates over his performances, Van Dijk’s future at Liverpool remains uncertain. The Dutch defender, along with Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, is out of contract at the end of the season, with no clear indication that any of them will sign new deals.
When asked about Van Dijk’s future, Liverpool manager Arne Slot was hopeful but non-committal:
“I don’t know what’s happening next season as well in terms of results, but that is not what you mean. The only thing I know is that I want Virgil to be here next season.”
Van Dijk himself added:
“Maybe I will run this fully down and then there is still no news, I don’t know. But I don’t want to create any anxiety or anything like that. I just keep my head down and focus on hopefully winning the next 10 games.”
Liverpool’s Title Push Continues
With a Premier League title within reach, Van Dijk and his teammates remain determined to finish the season on a high. Whether or not he remains at Anfield beyond the summer, the Dutch captain’s focus remains on securing silverware for the club.
As Liverpool push forward, fans will be watching closely—not just for Van Dijk’s defensive performances, but also for any developments on his long-term future at the club.
