Van Dijk Stresses Salah's Vital Role in Liverpool's Campaign
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has underscored the continued significance of Mohamed Salah to the club's ambitions this season, following a standout performance in the FA Cup.
Salah Shines in FA Cup Victory Over Brighton
The Egypt international delivered one of his finest displays of an otherwise challenging campaign, scoring a penalty and providing an assist in Liverpool's 3-0 triumph against Brighton. Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai also found the net, securing the Reds' passage into the fifth round of the competition.
Salah has been a fixture in the starting lineup since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations. Prior to his departure, he faced a period of reduced involvement, being benched for four matches and omitted entirely from one squad.
Navigating Tensions and Rebuilding Form
This followed public expressions of frustration from Salah, which hinted at a strained relationship with head coach Arne Slot and raised questions about his immediate future at Anfield. However, tensions appear to have eased during his international absence, with Salah now aligning more closely with Slot's tactical demands.
Despite netting only two club goals since November 1, Van Dijk emphasised that Salah contributes far more than just goals. "I think Mo is still so important for us. He is still a leader and important for me personally, as a captain, to have around and to have him on the pitch as his presence benefits the team," the defender stated.
"He always gives the team more than goals. There's obviously a lot of focus on his goals at the moment and that's also part of his life because he sets the standards so extremely high that when he doesn't score as much he gets criticised," Van Dijk added.
Contract Uncertainty and Team Focus
Off-field doubts persist regarding whether Salah will remain for the final year of his contract, particularly if his statistical output does not improve. Van Dijk, however, expressed a desire for the forward to see out his current deal.
"The full focus is on trying to make this season a success first and then you never know what happens. I always want Mo to stay because I'm a good friend and we've been through the highs and not-so-highs together for so many years," he remarked.
Kerkez's Emergence and Squad Development
While Salah's form has been under scrutiny, summer signing Milos Kerkez has begun to showcase the qualities that prompted Liverpool's £40 million investment in the left-back, overcoming a difficult initial adjustment period.
"It is pretty clear you definitely see an improvement. He is still so young and getting used to being a Liverpool player, it is a lot more than kicking a ball on the pitch, especially when the team has been inconsistent it's not easy to play your best games," Van Dijk observed.
He concluded by noting that Kerkez's development hinges on gaining experience and managing the pressures both on and off the pitch, as Liverpool strive to build a cohesive and successful squad for the remainder of the season.
