"I want him to remain with us" – Liverpool's captain, Virgil van Dijk, expresses his desire for Mohamed Salah to continue at the club following a revealing interview that cast doubt on the forward's future at Anfield.
On December 14, 2025, it was reported by AFP that Liverpool's esteemed captain, Virgil van Dijk, has openly stated his wish for star player Mohamed Salah to stay with the team, amidst swirling rumors suggesting that the Egyptian might be leaving Anfield. Salah made headlines after voicing his frustrations, stating he felt "thrown under the bus" by the club after he was left on the bench during last week's dramatic 3-3 draw against Leeds United. His status as an unused substitute in that match, coupled with his omission from the squad for a subsequent victory over Inter Milan, raised eyebrows and questions about his future.
In a positive turn, Salah returned to the lineup for Liverpool's triumph over Brighton, where a late penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai secured a narrow 1-0 win. This match marked Salah's last appearance for Liverpool before he departs to join the Egypt national team for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations later this month. Speculation abounds that this could be his final game with the Reds, as reports suggest a potential exit in January.
After the Brighton match, van Dijk confirmed his discussions with Salah, saying, "Of course, I talk to him about everything. I've made it clear that I want him to stay here. The details of our conversations, I’ll keep private. I genuinely wish him all the best and hope he returns soon. Ultimately, I have no control over his decision. He is a vital leader for us, and I would love to have him on the team. However, he will be away for AFCON, and I sincerely hope for his success there. We’ll stay in touch in the coming days and weeks, as we always do. We'll see how things unfold."
Salah hinted that tensions between himself and head coach Arne Slot contributed to his uncertainty regarding his long-term commitment to Liverpool. Nevertheless, van Dijk praised Slot's handling of the situation, stating, "I believe he has managed this matter exceptionally well, staying calm despite the pressure. There’s a lot of external noise and understandably so, considering our performance hasn't matched the standards we set last season. We are all human, and everyone responds differently under stress. In my view, given our discussions, he has navigated this tricky situation admirably.
Liverpool has a history of unity, and it's crucial that we maintain that spirit, both in good times and challenging moments. Now is a critical time to observe how everyone reacts, and I think the manager has done a commendable job so far."
Following their victory against Brighton, which ended a tough stretch for the club, van Dijk reflected on the team's state of mind, saying, "While there may be challenges behind the scenes, our performances demonstrate that we are united. That’s what truly matters. The dressing room atmosphere remains positive, even if performance fluctuations can affect morale. What I see is a strong willingness to improve, along with the necessary energy and determination to succeed.
It all comes down to performance on the pitch for 95 minutes each game. We recognize that the season is long and our goal is to achieve consistent results. Therefore, we need to keep pushing forward while maintaining our composure."
As the end of 2025 approaches, Liverpool's recent resurgence in form has alleviated some pressure on coach Slot, who previously faced criticism after a disappointing run of just four wins from fifteen matches across competitions. The Dutch manager will be eager to extend this positive momentum heading into their next match against Tottenham next weekend.
Following that, Liverpool will end the year facing off against Wolverhampton, currently struggling at the bottom of the Premier League but recently showing signs of resilience in their matchup against league leaders Arsenal.
