An interesting interview given by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk in the aftermath of Mohamed Salah’s explosive claims following Arne Slot’s side’s 3-3 draw against Leeds United appears to have been missed.
As you are probably aware by now, a frustrated Salah, who has been benched for the last three Liverpool matches, spoke to the gathered press pack in the mixed zone of Elland Road after the Premier League champions surrendered a two-goal lead against Leeds.
The 33-year-old Egyptian claimed that he felt he had been “thrown under the bus” with the Reds struggling this term before also claiming he and head coach Slot “don’t have a relationship” and that “someone doesn’t want me in the club”.
As expected, since then, the interview has drawn a mixed reaction from fans, pundits and ex-players, with former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher branding Salah’s comments a “disgrace” when speaking on Monday Night Football on December 8.
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“I thought it was a disgrace with what he did. I think when he stops in the mixed zone, it’s choreographed with him and his agent to cause maximum damage and strengthen his own position,” Carragher claimed in an eight-and-a-half-minute rant.
Slot also spoke yesterday and confirmed that Salah has been omitted from Liverpool’s travelling party for December 9’s Champions League clash against Inter in Milan.
And among all of this, an interesting interview which Van Dijk gave to journalist Maurice Stewart appears to have been missed.
The Dutchman spoke in the moments after Salah’s controversial interview and explained how the same mistakes are “occurring again and again” before going on to touch on how the Reds have struggled to deal with raucous atmospheres this term.
“We can’t deny the atmosphere, but that’s something you have to embrace,” Van Dijk said.
“It’s something you want to be playing in, so that’s not an excuse. I think it is definitely a problem and something that we have to improve.”
Stewart mentioned that there were “unconfirmed” reports from foreign media outlets that Van Dijk replied, “let him say something,” when asked about Salah’s comments.
The Liverpool skipper then looked ahead to the Inter clash.
“I’ll make sure my mindset is on trying to get a good result in Milan, and for the rest of the season as well, because obviously we are, at the moment, not where we should be as a club,” the centre back added.
“We don’t deserve any more at the moment either, so we have to keep going, keep working. And it’s difficult.”
After Tuesday’s trip to Milan, Liverpool will face Brighton at Anfield on December 13.
Topics: Liverpool, Virgil Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Arne Slot, Premier League, Football, Jamie Carragher
Luke Davies