Arjun Menon
Van Dijk hails Liverpool unity after Salah’s comeback
Captain Virgil van Dijk declared Liverpool “are absolutely united and go forward as one” following Mohamed Salah‘s return to the squad for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Brighton.
Salah, who had been left out of the midweek Champions League victory at Inter Milan, came off the bench to make his first appearance since criticizing the club after the 3-3 draw with Leeds. The 33-year-old provided an assist in the win, easing tensions after his recent comments.
Speaking after the match, Van Dijk emphasized the team’s solidarity: “We showed this week that we are absolutely united. We go forward as one.”
“Mo is going to Afcon and we all hope that he’ll be successful there and he’ll come back and be important for us for the rest of the season. The other side of it is that we all know football and we have no idea what is going to happen. I hope that he stays because he is one of my leaders and still very important for the football club. But there’s more parties to this situation.”
Salah will join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) on Monday, potentially missing up to eight Liverpool games if Egypt reaches the final on 18 January.
Van Dijk praises Slot’s handling of the situation
The Dutch defender also commended manager Arne Slot for his calm approach amid recent challenges. Liverpool remain unbeaten in their last five games since their Champions League loss to PSV.
“I think he has handled the situation very well calm in his own way. There’s a lot of noise and pressure from the outside world, and rightly so because we’ve not been up to the standard we’ve shown in the last few seasons. We’ve just got to keep going.”
Van Dijk reflected on the club’s resilience, stating, “We go through the good times together, as a team, as a club, and as a fanbase. But when difficult moments arise, we also have to stick together.”
With Salah set to depart for international duty, Liverpool will look to maintain their momentum in his absence.
Read also: Gerrard Urges Salah to Retract Comments Amid Liverpool Turmoil