Virgil van Dijk has fired back at Mohamed Salah’s explosive comments with a message to the Liverpool squad.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has reminded his teammates that no player is entitled to special treatment, just days after Mohamed Salah suggested he shouldn’t have to fight for his spot. Salah, 33, made headlines on Saturday when he was left out of the starting XI for the third consecutive match under manager Arne Slot, as the Premier League champions drew 3-3 at Leeds United. Speaking to journalists, Salah accused the club of “throwing him under the bus” and hinted that next Saturday’s home game against Brighton could be his last. He argued that his past contributions to Liverpool should guarantee him a starting role, despite his recent dip in form.
“I don’t have to fight for my position every day because I’ve earned it,” Salah said. “I’m not bigger than anyone, but I’ve earned my spot. That’s football.”
Van Dijk, however, disagreed. Asked whether Salah’s absence from the starting lineup for Wednesday’s 1-1 home draw against Sunderland sent a message to the squad, he said: “That’s always been the case. No one has unlimited credit; everyone has to perform. Mo has been doing that, but the manager made his decisions in the last two games. We all want the best for the club. Mo is still a huge part of what we’re trying to achieve because he’s an incredible player and has shown it consistently.
“We’re all trying to find consistency. He needs us at our best, and we need him at his best. He’s still a fantastic player, and we must remember why he’s been so successful here and respect that. I need him as one of our leaders. He’s disappointed, but that’s normal—if you’re not disappointed after missing two games, that’s a problem too.”
Whether Salah will feature again under Slot remains unclear. The two-time Premier League winner told reporters that he now feels “no relationship” with the manager. “I’ve said before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and now suddenly we don’t,” Salah said. “I don’t know why. It feels like the club is throwing me under the bus. It’s clear someone wants me to take all the blame.”