Virgil van Dijk has responded to what he feels is ‘lazy criticism’ of Liverpool during the club’s recent run of form.
Liverpool were accused last week of lacking leadership by former England captain Wayne Rooney, who said he felt the club’s senior stars were not performing during a run of five consecutive domestic defeats.
“Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, they’ve signed new deals but I don’t think they’ve really led that team this season,” Rooney said to The Wayne Rooney show.
“I think body language tells you a lot, and I think we’re seeing slightly different body language from the two of them. They are the top two players in that team and if their body language is not right, that affects everyone else.
“I might be wrong on this, but if I was a Liverpool fan or the manager, that would be a big concern for me.”
Arne Slot’s side returned to winning ways at the weekend, after beating Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield. Following that win, Van Dijk was asked about Rooney’s comments and called them ‘lazy criticism’.
“I didn’t hear him last year,” Van Dijk said.
“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.”
