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Beth Lindop
Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United striker, has reiterated his criticism of Virgil van Dijk, following the Liverpool captain’s dismissal of Rooney’s assertion that the Reds have been lacking leadership this season as “lazy.”
Last week, Rooney specifically highlighted Van Dijk and teammate Mohamed Salah when discussing Liverpool’s disappointing form, stating that their body language this season has not been right.
After Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday, Van Dijk responded to Rooney’s remarks: “I can only say positive things [about Rooney], but I believe that comment is somewhat lazy criticism.
“That’s just my personal view. It’s easy to blame all the players, but as everyone knows, we work together to try and help each other get out of this situation.”
Rooney has since reinforced his comments, while also expressing “full respect” for the Liverpool defender.
During an episode of BBC’s The Wayne Rooney Show, the England legend stated: “Virgil van Dijk is similar to Salah; over the past five years, he has been one of the, if not the best defender in the world. Last year, it was difficult to criticize anyone because they were all performing at such a high level, including him.”
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Liverpool’s Van Dijk responds to Rooney’s ‘lazy criticism’
“I’m sure he would admit that he hasn’t been at his best this season, if he were honest. As a captain, when things go wrong, it is your responsibility to talk to your teammates and hold meetings, and that’s what I aimed to convey. As a captain and a leader, I trust he is doing that,” he added.
“I have complete respect for Virgil. I consider him a fantastic player. My role as a pundit is to share my opinions honestly. If you asked him or Arne Slot, I’m sure they too would acknowledge he hasn’t performed at the level he has in previous years. That’s the comment I stand by.”