Liverpool stands firm and moving forward as a united unit after Mohamed Salah’s return, Virgil van Dijk asserts.
The team’s captain noted that Liverpool are “absolutely united and go forward as one” as Salah came off the bench in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Brighton. This marked Salah’s first appearance since he publicly claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club following last weekend’s 3-3 draw with Leeds. He was left out of the squad for the midweek Champions League victory at Inter Milan but rejoined the team for Brighton, also contributing an assist.
Salah will join the Egypt squad for the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday and could miss up to eight Liverpool matches if Egypt progress to the final on January 18.
Van Dijk, who also marked his 250th Premier League appearance for the club on Saturday, emphasized unity. “Mo is going to Afcon and we all hope that he’ll be successful there and come back important for us for the rest of the season,” he said. He also acknowledged the unpredictability of football and the importance of Salah remaining a leader at the club, while recognizing there are other factors at play.
The Dutch defender also lauded manager Arne Slot for his handling of recent events. Liverpool have been unbeaten in five matches since their 3-2 loss to PSV in the Champions League, a run Van Dijk described as evidence of the squad’s mental resilience. Slot, he added, has maintained a calm approach amid heightened external pressure and noise—an environment that can strain even strong teams.
Van Dijk stressed the need to stay cohesive through both highs and lows. He underlined that Liverpool’s strength comes from collective unity among the players, the club, and the supporters, and he suggested now is a critical moment to observe how everyone responds when confronted with challenges.
