Van Dijk Rallies Behind Benched Salah as Liverpool Captain Issues Passionate Teammate Defense
Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk emphasized that he continues to rely on Mohamed Salah's leadership in the locker room as the January transfer period approaches, during which the Egyptian star's destiny is expected to dominate discussions.
Following a disappointing beginning to the campaign, Salah has found himself starting Liverpool's previous two Premier League fixtures from the substitutes' bench, with head coach Arne Slot acknowledging that his insufficient defensive contributions were unsustainable during a spell of poor results.
It represented a significant choice from Slot to sideline arguably the squad's most impactful performer in recent seasons, a decision that Van Dijk conceded must act as a reality check for everyone in the Anfield changing room.
"That has always been the situation [that nobody is guaranteed a starting position]," Van Dijk stated (via The Times). "It's not as if you possess endless goodwill, everyone must deliver performances.
"Mo has been accomplishing that but the coach made that choice in the previous two matches. We all desire what's best for the organization. I am confident Mo will continue to be a significant component of what we're striving to accomplish because he is an exceptional talent and he has demonstrated it repeatedly.
"We are all attempting to discover consistency and he requires us to be at our peak condition and we require him and that's what we are all working to achieve."
Van Dijk: 'Frustrated' Salah Still Has Part to Play
Salah's position as the club's highest-paid player has, unsurprisingly, created considerable doubt about his future prospects. Potential buyers from the Saudi Pro League have been suggested to renew their pursuit as soon as January, with speculation of a potential transfer to Major League Soccer also fueling the rumors.
Despite Salah's present situation on the field, Van Dijk maintained that the experienced forward continues to be a crucial element of the team's dynamics off the pitch as both players work to pull Liverpool from their current struggles.
"As he ought to be: frustrated," Van Dijk responded when questioned about Salah's mindset. "But we require him and he will continue to be valuable as he has been.
"He remains an outstanding player and we must still acknowledge there is a justification for his tremendous success at the club and we must honor that.
"I require his presence as one of our captains. I'm not concerned. He's frustrated but that's completely understandable because if you're not upset when you're not featuring in two consecutive matches then there's a problem too. But it's forward to the next [match] now."
Arne Slot: Rumors About Salah's Future Expected
When coach Slot faced the press on Friday to discuss his team's upcoming visit to Leeds United, he anticipated that questions about his intentions for Salah would arise quickly.
Having consistently maintained that his lineup decisions would be influenced by the opposition, rather than any personal conflict with Salah, Slot confirmed the Egyptian remains a candidate for a starting role at Elland Road.
"I believe every player in my thoughts can begin and Mo is an outstanding performer for us," Slot disclosed. "He is constantly in my considerations to either begin or to enter [as a substitute]."
A third straight match outside the starting eleven would only fuel the conjecture regarding Salah's future, which Slot acknowledged was predictable.
"The discussion, yes [I comprehend it] because he merits that, he has been so impactful for me and six or seven years," the Reds manager commented. "It's entirely natural people discuss it when he isn't [playing]."