Wayne Rooney fires back at Virgil van Dijk as feisty Liverpool row erupts

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Read our Privacy PolicyRooney had suggested Van Dijk was lacking in leadership qualities this term.In reply, the Dutch defender stated after the 2-0 win against Aston Villa that he believed the critical comments were "lazy"."Well, I didn't hear him last year," Van Dijk said, when asked about Rooney's words. It's easy to blame the other players, but he knows as well as everyone else we do it together, trying to help each and every one of us to try to get out of this."Like I said, last year when things go well you don't hear that at all.

It's part and parcel when everyone has an opinion and we have to deal with it.Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk was not happy with Wayne Rooney's comments. I don't take it personal whatsoever, but I feel like that."Rooney has since hit back at Van Dijk's remarks, maintaining he holds enormous respect for the defender whilst arguing the Liverpool star hasn't reached his typical levels this campaign."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," Rooney explained 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 team-mates.

And that's really what I was saying as a captain, as a leader, I'm sure he will have been doing that. Trending "I've got full respect for Virgil van Dijk, I think he's a fantastic player.