‘Focus on your game’ – Wayne Rooney makes fresh dig at Virgil van Dijk after Liverpool’s fifth Premier League defeat | OneFootball

The back and forth between Wayne Rooney and Virgil van Dijk has continued following Liverpool’s humiliating 3-0 loss at Manchester City. 

In his latest appearance on the Overlap Fan Debate podcast, the Manchester United icon advised the 34-year-old to not get involved with outside noise and focus on his game. 

Rooney criticised Van Dijk’s body language last month before the two were involved in an awkward exchange during Amazon Prime’s coverage of the Reds’ Champions League victory against Real Madrid. 

The former England international admitted he was wrong to question the defender’s commitment, but still criticised the skipper’s performances this season. 

He said: “My job now is to give my opinions. I like to think I try and be straight and honest with my opinions on what I feel and what I see.

“I said on my podcast the other day, the one thing where I maybe went a bit too strong is where I said he’s maybe downed tools since he signed a new contract – that’s a big statement to say, so maybe I was wrong on that.

“But from a performance level, from what we’ve seen, Van Dijk, I don’t think he’s been at the level he has this season.

“I said I’m sure as captain he’d be speaking to players, taking the team out for food, which he said he has done. Clearly, if he’s felt he’s done that, he’s had to do that, then there’s something not right.“

“As champions, you can’t lose four games in a row. If you lose one game, there’s questions, and if you lose four in a row, there’s something not right.

“I think getting involved too much in the outside noise – that’s our job. Focus on your game, because as a younger player, I’d be looking at Van Dijk and how he reacts to this, how is that going to help them? I just think you have to get on with your game and speak internally.”

Van Dijk found the net with a towering header against City last weekend, but the goal was disallowed as Andy Robertson was deemed to be influencing the goalkeeper in an offside position. 

The 34-year-old was at fault for City’s second goal that went in off his heel when making no attempt to block the shot. 

Van Dijk won 100% of his aerial duels and made four clearances in the Etihad Stadium encounter, but it was far from a vintage display from the Liverpool captain. 

He lost possession of the ball on eight occasions and completed just 38% of his long balls. 

Liverpool have dropped down to eighth in the league standings following their fifth defeat of the season. 

Arne Slot must inspire a big comeback after the international break to get his team back in contention for the Premier League title. 

Stats from Sofascore