Wayne Rooney hits back at Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk as war of words takes new twist

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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney have been involved in a war of words amid the struggles of Arne Slot's team this seasonFormer Manchester United and Everton star Wayne Rooney has defended his recent comments on Virgil van Dijk following the Liverpool captain’s heated response over the weekend. In response, the Dutch centre-back said after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa that he felt the negative remarks 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. I don't take it personal whatsoever, but I feel like that.”Rooney has since responded to Van Dijk's comments, insisting he has the utmost respect for Van Dijk, but adding that the Liverpool star has not 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,” he said 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.

“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. My job now as a pundit is to give my opinions on what I feel.“I'm sure if you ask him or you ask Arne Slot, he probably hasn't been as good as he has been over the last few years and that was my comment.”Liverpool return to action on Tuesday evening with a blockbuster Champions League fixture at home to Real Madrid.