Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has described former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney’s criticism of the team’s leadership as “lazy.”
The Reds, who won the Premier League title last season under manager Arne Slot, began the 2025-26 campaign with five consecutive league wins but have since struggled, suffering a fourth straight league defeat against Brentford last week.
Following that loss, Rooney suggested that Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah had not “really led that team this season.”
Speaking after Liverpool’s rebound with a win over Aston Villa on Saturday, Van Dijk responded:
“It doesn’t hurt me. Obviously, Wayne is a legend and a player who has inspired so many, and I can only say positive things. But I feel that comment is, I would say, a bit of lazy criticism.”
“It’s easy to blame other players, but we work together to help each other and get out of tough situations. Last year, when things went well, you didn’t hear that at all. It is what it is.”
Van Dijk added that he does not take Rooney’s opinion personally, acknowledging that pundits are entitled to their views.
“He has an opinion and we have to deal with it. There’s no hard feelings,” Van Dijk said.
In a recent podcast, Rooney praised Van Dijk as one of the world’s best defenders over the past five years, but reiterated his stance on the Liverpool leadership issue.
