Virgil van Dijk has pledged to speak with Mohamed Salah as soon as Liverpool return from Italy, acknowledging that Salah’s interview has complicated matters.
The forward’s comments at Leeds, widely described as inflammatory, dominated the build-up to Tuesday’s trip to Milan and have fuelled speculation that his Anfield career may be nearing its end, despite his remarkable haul of 250 goals for the club.
Salah did not travel with the squad and remained in England while Liverpool focused on their Champions League assignment against Inter.
Van Dijk stressed that the dressing room is determined not to be distracted by the external noise surrounding the situation, reiterating that the squad’s focus remains firmly on performances on the pitch.
That focus paid off at San Siro, where Liverpool secured a crucial 1-0 victory thanks to an 88th-minute penalty converted by Dominik Szoboszlai.
The late winner ensured a positive result, yet the post-match narrative quickly returned to the uncertainty surrounding Salah’s future.
“Obviously it’s difficult. It’s a collective difficult situation we’re all in. Between Mo and the club, things are going on. For the consequences he’s not here today to help us try to get the three points. That’s the reality,” said Van Dijk.
“I don’t think anything changes in terms of our focus and determination to get results for the football club. I don’t think I’m the one to speak if someone has to apologise. It’s him airing his feelings.
“That’s something that the club has to deal with and us as well. If I look at the dressing room, on Sunday, the day after [the interview], nothing really has changed.
“We have a responsibility to ourselves and the whole football club and all the fans in the world to perform. The focus was there.”
