Virgil can Dijk calls Salah “one of his leaders” | OneFootball

Van Dijk stresses unity at Liverpool after Salah return and Afcon departure

Squad unity reaffirmed after turbulent week

Virgil van Dijk has delivered a clear message of solidarity from inside the Liverpool camp following Mohamed Salah’s return to the squad in the 2-0 win over Brighton. After a week dominated by external noise and intense scrutiny, the Liverpool captain was keen to underline that the dressing room remains aligned and focused on collective objectives.

Salah returned to action as a first-half substitute, his first appearance since being left out of the midweek Champions League victory over Inter. The forward made an immediate impact by providing an assist, helping Liverpool secure a composed home win. For Van Dijk, however, the bigger picture was about reinforcing togetherness rather than individual moments.

“We showed this week that we are absolutely united. We go forward as one,” Van Dijk said after the match, framing the result as evidence of internal cohesion rather than resolution of a single issue.

The Dutch defender reached a personal landmark with his 250th Premier League appearance for Liverpool, underlining his status as a central figure during periods of both stability and challenge at Anfield.

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool Liverpool v Brighton and Hove Albion, Premier League, Football, Anfield, Liverpool, UK 

Salah Afcon absence and leadership importance

Attention now turns to Salah’s departure for the Africa Cup of Nations, with the forward set to link up with Egypt ahead of the tournament. Should Egypt progress to the final on 18 January, Salah could miss up to eight Liverpool fixtures across competitions, a significant absence during a demanding phase of the season.

Van Dijk struck a balance between encouragement and realism when discussing Salah’s situation. “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,” he said.

He also acknowledged the uncertainty that often surrounds elite players and major international tournaments. “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.”

Those comments reflected both Salah’s importance within the squad and the wider realities that Liverpool must navigate away from the pitch.

Slot praised for calm leadership under pressure

Van Dijk was equally supportive when discussing Arne Slot, who has faced an intense spotlight during a challenging spell. Liverpool are now unbeaten in five matches since their Champions League defeat to PSV, a run that has helped steady momentum and ease some of the external pressure.

“I think he has handled the situation very well – calm in his own way and it’s a very tricky situation,” Van Dijk said.

The Liverpool captain also acknowledged that criticism from outside has not been entirely unfounded. “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.”

For Van Dijk, the emphasis remains on progress rather than reaction, with the squad required to maintain consistency over time.

Togetherness viewed as key test for season ahead

Looking beyond individual performances and short-term controversy, Van Dijk framed the current moment as a revealing test of Liverpool’s character. “We’ve just got to keep going. He’s at a club which is very together and that’s how it has been before our time at the club, and that’s something we have to keep going,” he said.

He added: “We go through the good times together, as a team, as a club and as a fanbase, but sometimes when the difficult moments arise we also have to stick together. This moment of time is a very good moment to see how everyone responds.”

With Salah heading to Afcon and Liverpool entering a crucial stretch of the campaign, Van Dijk’s message is clear. Unity, resilience and collective responsibility will define how the season unfolds from here.