Van Dijk and Rooney clashed on the pitch: “You're exaggerating!”

Rooney had expressed his displeasure with the way Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, the leaders of Liverpool's dressing room, conducted themselves at a time when the team was not going well. On Tuesday night, after Liverpool beat Real Madrid 1-0, the Dutchman gave a post-match interview alongside Rooney.

VIDEO. Virgil Van Dijk and Wayne Rooney faced off live

Virgil van Dijk:

“I think if you [Rooney] watched games then I would definitely take responsibility. Your comment about me signing my deal [and then not leading or performing well] it was a bit much.. I would let that slide..” pic.twitter.com/tjyqTC4QCf

— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) November 4, 2025

As Rooney smiled, Van Dijk said: “I think it's very important to put things in context, put your head down, work and get out of the situation, because we have quality, that's not the problem.”

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler, who was also in the studio, asked if outside criticism was affecting the team.

“I think you all know that you are working with a group of 25 players, many young footballers and some older ones like me, each one lives a different life,” explained the defender, according to sportal.bg. “It doesn't affect me personally, but I deal with some players that maybe it does.

If you lose four or five games in a row as a Liverpool player, the criticism is justified, but sometimes I think it's exaggerated. But it is, because we live in a world where there are so many platforms, so many people can speak, and their words are picked up and amplified.”

Rooney heard the captain's statement and joked: “I won't say anything more, I think I motivated them and helped them start a winning streak!“.

However, he defended his earlier statements, stating: “What I said was right. When you win the Premier League and then go into a losing streak that you didn't expect… Virgil, as captain, that's your opportunity to help the other players, that's what I meant. I think that happens in football and the reaction of Virgil and the team was great.”

Virgil van Dijk / Photo: Getty Images

Van Dijk, however, did not leave things like that and replied: “I think if you watch the matches you can see that I definitely take responsibility! The comment that I signed a new contract and then relaxed, I think is a bit… but this is my personal opinion. I want to play well for the team and the club and when we go through a difficult period it hurts me a lot and I want to change things. Because I also see the work we put in every day, I see the quality we have”.

Two days ago, Van Dijk offered an equally firm reaction, responding to Rooney's criticism: “I didn't hear it last year when the team was going differently.”

“Analysts have to do their job too, so that's it. Like I said, he has an opinion and we have to accept it. And by the way, there's no hard feelings. I don't take it personally at all.”