Van Dijk Backs Salah To Stay Amid Liverpool Uncertainty

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has publicly thrown his support behind Mohamed Salah, admitting he wants the Egyptian star to remain at Anfield despite growing uncertainty surrounding his future.

Salah’s Liverpool career has come under the spotlight following an explosive post-match interview after the Reds’ 3-3 draw with Leeds United, where he claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club. The forward was an unused substitute in that game and was subsequently left out of the squad for Liverpool’s Champions League victory over Inter Milan.

However, Salah returned to the matchday squad against Brighton at the weekend, coming off the bench to provide an assist as Liverpool secured a 2-0 win. That appearance could yet prove significant, with AFCON duty looming and speculation mounting over a potential January exit.

Speaking after the Brighton victory, Van Dijk made his position clear.

“I’ve told him I want him to stay,” the Liverpool skipper said. “He is one of the leaders in this team. I would love to have him around, but I have no control over what happens next.”

Van Dijk also backed manager Arne Slot to handle the situation calmly, insisting the Dutchman has managed the pressure well despite the noise surrounding the club.

“It’s a tricky situation,” Van Dijk added. “There’s a lot of pressure from outside, but we’re a together club. When difficult moments arise, we stick together.”

With Salah set to join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool now face a delicate balancing act—steadying their season while navigating the future of one of the club’s greatest modern icons.