Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has publicly asserted that the team is “absolutely united and go forward as one” following Mohamed Salah’s return to the squad for Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Brighton.
Salah, who had publicly criticized the club and claimed his relationship with coach Arne Slot had broken down, was left out of the midweek Champions League squad but returned against Brighton after talks with Slot, earning an assist in the win.
Van Dijk expressed hope that Salah, who now joins Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and could miss up to eight Liverpool games, would return and be important.
However, he acknowledged the uncertainty, stating, “we have no idea what is going to happen” and that “there’s more parties to this situation.” The captain commended Coach Slot for his handling of the situation, calling him “calm in his own way” during the “very tricky situation” involving external noise and pressure.
Van Dijk, who made his 250th Premier League appearance for the club, emphasized the need for the team, club, and fanbase to stick together during difficult moments, adding that the current response shows how united they are.
Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday in a match that saw the return of Mohamed Salah to the squad following his public disagreement with head coach Arne Slot.
Match Highlights:
- Goals: Liverpool opened the scoring, and the victory was sealed by a second goal early in the second half.
- Salah’s Impact: Coming off the bench, Mohamed Salah provided an assist for Liverpool’s second goal, marking his first contribution since the controversy. His appearance was preceded by talks with manager Arne Slot, which facilitated his return to the matchday squad after being dropped for the midweek Champions League game.
The result continues Liverpool’s unbeaten run to five games since their Champions League loss to PSV. Following the match, Salah departed to join the Egypt national team for the Africa Cup of Nations.
