Virgil van Dijk speaking to reporters after Liverpool’s win against Inter Milan.
Liverpool might have grabbed a gritty 1–0 win over Inter Milan at the San Siro, but let’s be honest — all the noise was around Mohamed Salah’s shocking absence from the squad.
After Salah dropped a bombshell interview complaining about his treatment and strained relationship with manager Arne Slot, the Egyptian superstar was left out of the team sheet. And of course, the world waited for someone inside Liverpool to speak up.
Enter Virgil van Dijk.
The captain didn’t dodge the question. He didn’t sugarcoat anything. He gave it to the media straight.
Speaking after the win, van Dijk said:
“It’s difficult, but it’s a collective difficult situation that we’re all in. Between Mo and the club, things are happening, and he’s not here today; that’s the reality. I don’t think anything has changed in terms of our focus and determination.”
In other words:
Liverpool still has a job to do — drama or no drama.
Despite the storm surrounding the club, van Dijk emphasized the importance of staying locked in:
“It’s a good feeling of winning. Especially in a period we are in, trying to find consistency and something to build on. There’s obviously so much noise from the outside world, which is normal when you don’t perform.”
And he’s right. A win at the San Siro is no small achievement, especially with the team drowning in headlines.
Liverpool face Brighton on Saturday, and right now, it’s unclear whether Salah will play — or if we’ve already seen his last dance in a Liverpool jersey.
To add to the tension, the 33-year-old is expected to link up with Egypt for AFCON 2025 just two days after the match.
Liverpool fans are holding their breath.
The Premier League is watching.
And the football world is waiting for the next chapter.
Whatever happens, you’ll read it here first on Sports Market International — the best sport blog and your home for sports market stories that matter.
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