Overview
- Rooney withdrew the claim that Van Dijk eased off after signing a new contract, calling that wording unfair on his BBC podcast.
- He maintained his broader view that the Liverpool captain’s displays this season have dipped below his usual standards, despite praising the Real Madrid performance.
- Van Dijk brushed off the earlier remarks as lazy criticism during Amazon Prime’s post-match coverage and said they would move on.
- Rooney said he was blindsided by Van Dijk’s appearance, explaining he had expected Dominik Szoboszlai to do the interview.
- The exchange followed a turbulent spell for Liverpool that featured six defeats in seven before back-to-back victories over Aston Villa and Real Madrid.