Liverpool: Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has made it clear he wants Mohamed Salah to remain at the club, describing the Egyptian forward as one of the team’s key leaders amid growing speculation over his future.
Salah returned to action on Saturday against Brighton, coming off the bench for his first appearance since his explosive post-match comments following Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds, where he said he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club.
The 33-year-old also revealed in the same interview that he currently has no relationship with Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, who had benched him for three consecutive matches. Salah was then left out of Liverpool’s midweek Champions League victory over Inter Milan before making a surprise first-half substitute appearance at the weekend.
Salah Makes Impact Before AFCON Departure
Despite the controversy, Salah made an immediate impact, providing an assist for Hugo Ekitike’s second goal in Liverpool’s crucial 2-0 win over Brighton. The result helped the Reds extend their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions following a turbulent week.
Salah is now set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where he could be unavailable for up to five weeks.
Van Dijk Backs Salah’s Importance
Speaking after the match, Van Dijk admitted uncertainty surrounds what will happen next but stressed his desire for Salah to stay.
“I would love to have him around because he is one of the leaders,” Van Dijk said. “The fact is he is going to AFCON. We will stay in contact like we always do and see what happens.”
“I wish him all the best there and hope he comes back successfully and remains important for us for the rest of the season. But in football, you never know what will happen.”
Dressing Room United Despite Speculation
Van Dijk dismissed suggestions that the ongoing saga has affected squad harmony, praising both Salah and the team’s response.
“As a captain, I look at how the boys react — and they reacted perfectly fine. Mo also reacted well in the end,” he added.
Slot had earlier stated there was “no issue to resolve” with Salah, though speculation around the forward’s long-term future at Anfield continues.
Praise for Arne Slot Amid Pressure
Van Dijk also backed Slot’s handling of a difficult spell, with Liverpool’s Premier League title defence faltering in recent weeks.
“There is a lot of noise and pressure from the outside, and rightly so because we haven’t reached last season’s standards,” he said.
“But from what I see daily and from our conversations, the manager has handled it very well. This is a moment that shows how people respond, and I think he has done perfectly.”
With Salah heading to AFCON and uncertainty lingering, Liverpool face a crucial phase of the season — both on and off the pitch.
