Wayne Rooney fires back at Virgil van Dijk after Liverpool captain's comments

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“Well, I didn't hear him last year,” said Van Dijk, when asked about Rooney’s words. "Like I said, last year when things go well you don't hear that at all.

I don't take it personal whatsoever, but I feel like that.” Van Dijk hit back at Rooney's negative assessment of his leadership credentials during Liverpool's negative run Rooney has since responded, insisting he has the utmost respect for Van Dijk, but adding that the Liverpool star hasn’t been up to his usual standards this season. "Van Dijk, similar to Mo Salah, over the last five years, he's been one of if not the best defender in the world, and last year it was hard to say anything bad because he was that good,” said the ex-Manchester United and Everton star on his BBC podcast.

“I'm sure he'd come out and say he probably hasn't been as best this season if he's honest with himself, and as captain, your job if things aren't going right is to speak to your teammates, call meetings with your teammates." Rooney has responded to Van Dijk's comments (Image: Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images) “And that's really what I was saying as a captain, as a leader, I'm sure he will have been doing that. “I've got full respect for Virgil van Dijk, I think he's a fantastic player.