Liverpool Captain Van Dijk Defends Leadership Amid Rooney Criticism During Losing Streak

Wayne Rooney has publicly criticized Liverpool stars Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah for their leadership and body language during the club's recent poor run, though he maintains full respect for Van Dijk, acknowledging his previous high standards. Rooney suggested that Van Dijk has not been at his best this season and emphasized the importance of a captain's role in rallying the team during tough periods. Van Dijk responded by dismissing Rooney's comments as "lazy criticism," stressing that leadership is a collective effort and pointing out that criticism is more prevalent during losing streaks than winning ones. Despite the criticism, Van Dijk highlighted the need for unity and humility, calling on the team to keep working together to overcome challenges. Liverpool ended their losing streak with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, with Van Dijk urging focus amid external noise from fans and media. The defender remains confident in the team's ability to recover and continues to see his role as setting an example rather than assigning blame.