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

Manchester United and Everton legend Wayne Rooney has stood by his recent remarks about Virgil van Dijk after the Liverpool captain hit back over the weekend. The ex-United and England skipper had criticised Van Dijk's body language last week following the Premier League loss to Brentford.

Liverpool have endured a torrid campaign for large portions, with Saturday's 2-0 triumph over Aston Villa ending a sequence of four consecutive league losses for the defending English top-flight champions. Prior to that victory against Unai Emery's side, Arne Slot's outfit had suffered defeat in six of their previous seven fixtures across all competitions.

Rooney 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 doesn't hurt me, to be honest, I feel like, just to come back to this particular player, and this obviously a legend, big player of the game - I can say all the only positive things but I feel like that comment, I would say it's a bit of a lazy criticism.

"That's my personal opinion. 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 is what it is.

"You have to do that job as well, so it is what it is. It's part and parcel when everyone has an opinion and we have to deal with it.

"And there are no hard feelings, by the way. 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.

"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 clash at home to Real Madrid.

The Reds will then make the trip to second-placed Manchester City in the league on Sunday.