Van Dijk sends Slot brutal Salah message: Deal with it!

Robin Bairner

Updated: 10 Dec 2025 15:53 GMT
5 min read

Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah, Arne Slot, Liverpool, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has sent a message of support to team-mate Mohamed Salah after he was left out of the squad to travel to Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.

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Salah, 33, stayed in England while the Reds played out a 1-0 win at San Siro courtesy of a penalty scored by Dominik Szoboszlai in the second half.

The Egypt international has been frozen out of the team after remarks made following Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Leeds in the Premier League, in which he claimed he felt that he had been “thrown under a bus” by his club and that “promises” to him had not been kept.

Current ETV

Mohamed Salah

F (CR), M (R)

Liverpool

Mohamed Salah

F (CR), M (R)

Liverpool

ETV Range

€36.1M - €44.1M

Van Dijk stepped up to defend his colleague following the match in Italy.

“It’s not up to me to decide who should apologise,” he said. “Salah simply expressed his feelings. The club has to be able to deal with that. He’s not with us today to get the three points.”

The Netherlands international admitted that he has spoken to Salah about the situation at Liverpool.

“The reality is that Mo is going to the Africa Cup of Nations. I’ve known him for a long time and Mo is a friend. We’ve had our ups and downs. Of course, we talk about this too, but we’ll keep that internal.”

© IMAGO - Mo Salah has fallen out with manager Arne Slot

Van Dijk was pleased with Liverpool’s victory as a whole again Inter.

“This is a great feeling, especially in this period. Hopefully, we can build on this. We have to be united, that's what Liverpool stands for. So much is being said, but we have to be able to isolate ourselves. This victory feels good,” he added.

Gerrard: Salah was 'wrong' for outburst

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has also chimed in on the situation and claimed Salah is 'wrong' for his behaviour, although he believes the 33-year-old will eventually see the error in his ways.

"He's obviously really upset he's not playing, which I respect. He won't sit out the team, which I respect. A couple of lines about throwing people under the bus – wrong. He needs to reverse away from that and deal with that with the manager," Gerrard told TNT Sports.

"I've seen it, I've lived it, I saw it with Luis Suarez when he fell out with Brendan Rodgers face-to-face and I've been there myself from a personal point of view. I did the Salah statement in 30 seconds against Manchester United when I got sent off. So no-one's perfect, we've all had head losses as players. We've all done emotional things where you think 'oh' and I know in time when this all calms, Mo will go 'I shouldn't have said that, I was a bit hasty'.

"At the end of the day, Liverpool need Mo Salah back playing well and back scoring goals because he is the best player and the best scorer and he will help them get out of this. If this goes on, this is bigger than what we all know and what we see."

It’s unclear whether Salah’s sanction by Liverpool will be extended to the weekend’s game against Brighton in the Premier League.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot was asked on Monday if Salah has played his last game for the club.

“I have no clue. I cannot answer that question at this point in time,” he replied.

“I am a firm believer that there is always a possibility to return for a player. I can leave it with that I think.”

Liverpool face Brighton at Anfield on Saturday in a 15:00 kick-off, with all eyes on Salah until then.

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