Is Mohamed Salah still essential to Liverpool? Van Dijk gives his answer

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·15 febbraio 2026

Is Mohamed Salah still essential to Liverpool? Van Dijk gives his answer

Liverpool captain addresses criticism of the winger

Is Mohamed Salah still essential to Liverpool? Van Dijk gives his answer

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Virgil van Dijk said Mohamed Salah remains vital to Liverpool despite his recent issues with the club and head coach Arne Slot.

Van Dijk backs Salah’s role at Anfield

Virgil van Dijk captain of Liverpool has spoken clearly about the importance of Mohamed Salah to the team following weeks of debate around the Egyptian star’s role and future.

Salah was at the center of controversy in December after expressing frustration over being left on the bench for three consecutive match.

The situation led to his exclusion from a UEFA Champions League game against Inter Milan raising questions about his relationship with the club and new head coach Arne Slot.

🚨 Virgil van Dijk on Mohamed Salah: “Mo [Salah] is still so important for us. Last week he had an assist again and broke another record and he is still the leader and important for me personally, as a captain, to have around and to have him on the pitch and his presence
– domenica 15 febbraio 2026

“People don’t see what he does”

Speaking to the media on Sunday, Van Dijk stressed that Salah’s value goes far beyond goals.

He said that as captain, it is important for him to have Salah by his side adding that many fans do not see the work the winger does behind the scenes to help the team succeed.

Van Dijk explained that Salah sets very high standards for himself. Because of that, any drop in goals quickly leads to criticism even though his overall contribution remains strong.

Strong response on the pitch

After returning to the starting lineup, Salah delivered important response on the field. He scored once and provided assist in Liverpool’s FA Cup win over Brighton showing his impact when trusted again.

Van Dijk pointed out that Salah offers leadership, experience and influence both on and off the pitch. He urged his teammate to stay calm and continue helping the team in every possible way.

🚨🔴 Virgil van Dijk maintains that Mo Salah is often unfairly criticized due to the extremely high standards he has set 😳✅: "He always gives the team more than goals. There's obviously a lot of focus on his goals at the moment and that's also part of his life because he
– domenica 15 febbraio 2026

Looking ahead to the rest of the season

The Liverpool captain said Salah still has a lot to give during the remainder of the campaign. He added that the coming months will show just how important the Egyptian forward remains for the club, now and in the future.

Liverpool currently sit sixth in the Premier League with 42 point and have reached the round of 16 in both the Champions League and the FA Cup keeping hopes alive on multiple fronts.