When Wayne Rooney speaks, football listens — and this time, the Manchester United legend has sent another shockwave through the Premier League world. After Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk dismissed his comments as “lazy criticism,” Rooney has hit back once again, standing firm in his belief that the Dutch defender has lost the unstoppable aura that once made him the most feared centre-back on the planet.
The tension began brewing when Rooney questioned Van Dijk’s leadership and recent form during Liverpool’s rough patch earlier in the season. The Reds, who had started strong, stumbled through a shocking run of four straight defeats, falling from first place to watching Arsenal take control of the Premier League title race. It was a collapse that left fans and pundits asking what went wrong with Liverpool’s once-dominant backline?
Rooney, never one to sugarcoat his opinions, pointed the finger directly at Liverpool’s biggest names: Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. On his BBC podcast, the former England captain didn’t hold back, saying the two stars hadn’t led the team as expected.
“No one saw this coming. It’s hit them hard, and I think they’re struggling to find a way out,” Rooney said. “This is the time when your leaders — your Van Dijk, your Salah — step up. But I don’t think they’ve really led that team this season.”
He added that something deeper was missing — something beyond tactics or fitness. For Rooney, it was about attitude, presence, and that invisible energy leaders carry on the pitch.
“Body language tells you everything,” he continued. “And I think we’re seeing something different from them. When your top players aren’t carrying the right energy, it spreads through the team. If I were a Liverpool fan or their manager, that would concern me.”
That critique didn’t sit well with Van Dijk, who responded confidently after Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa — their first win after a rough month of losses.
Van Dijk, calm yet firm, dismissed Rooney’s assessment as overly simplistic.
“I didn’t hear him last year,” the Liverpool captain said. “It doesn’t hurt me. I respect him — he’s a legend of the game — but I think that comment was a bit of a lazy criticism. We win together, we lose together. Everyone has an opinion, but I don’t take it personally.”
It was a measured response, the kind Van Dijk has become known for. But if he thought the matter would end there, he was mistaken.
Rooney doubled down — hard.
In his follow-up remarks, Rooney made it clear he wasn’t backing away from his original comments. In his eyes, the Dutchman simply hasn’t been the same since Liverpool’s peak years under Jürgen Klopp.
“Look, I respect Van Dijk massively,” Rooney clarified. “He’s been one of the best defenders of the last decade. But if we’re being honest, he probably hasn’t been as good as he was for a few years now. That’s not an insult — it’s just the truth. Every player hits a point where their form dips, and for me, that’s what’s happened.”
Rooney’s words have sparked another firestorm of debate across social media. Liverpool fans rushed to defend their captain, pointing out that Van Dijk has been the anchor of the defense even through the team’s recent turbulence. Manchester United supporters, on the other hand, were quick to support Rooney, claiming the Dutchman has been living off his old reputation since his knee injury in 2020.
And truthfully, there’s a case to be made on both sides.
At his best, Van Dijk was untouchable — a mix of power, calm, and elegance rarely seen in defenders. He made world-class strikers look ordinary and turned Anfield into a fortress. From 2018 to 2020, he wasn’t just Liverpool’s leader — he was their foundation. Opponents often looked defeated before even taking the pitch.
But since that serious knee injury against Everton, the aura has dimmed slightly. Van Dijk is still elite, still among the best in England, but perhaps no longer untouchable. His pace has slowed, his duels aren’t as commanding, and even his once-perfect positioning has shown cracks in high-intensity moments.
Rooney, who’s known the highs and lows of elite football himself, seems to be speaking from experience rather than malice. He knows how form fades, how leadership gets tested, and how easy it is to be judged harshly at the top.
The timing of his remarks, though, couldn’t be more dramatic. Liverpool are trying to rebuild their dominance under new manager Arne Slot, following Klopp’s emotional departure. Slot’s system demands energy, pressing, and collective leadership — the very qualities Rooney claims have been missing.
And while Van Dijk remains the captain, the question lingers: can he still inspire Liverpool back to glory?
For many fans, the debate goes deeper than one player’s form — it’s about legacy. Van Dijk has been a symbol of Liverpool’s rebirth, a signing that transformed the club from hopeful challengers to champions of England and Europe. But as time passes, the expectations grow heavier. Every minor dip becomes magnified. Every loss becomes a referendum on his leadership.
Rooney’s critique, whether fair or not, has reopened that conversation. And in classic Rooney fashion, he doesn’t seem to mind being the villain.
“I’ve been there,” he said. “When you’re a captain, you carry it all. When things go wrong, people point at you — that’s football. But you can’t hide behind excuses. You’ve got to face it and prove everyone wrong. That’s what I’d expect from Van Dijk.”
The message was clear — not hate, not rivalry, but a challenge. A dare from one leader to another.
Liverpool fans, meanwhile, are eager to see if their captain can silence the critics. With Arsenal flying high and Manchester City lurking, every match now carries extra pressure. Van Dijk’s response on the pitch will determine whether Rooney’s words age like wisdom — or fade into background noise.
One thing is certain: the Premier League never runs short of drama, and when legends like Rooney and Van Dijk trade words, the football world listens.
As Liverpool look to reclaim their swagger and stability, this exchange might just light the fire Van Dijk needs to lead with even greater authority. Because sometimes, criticism — even if “lazy” — can be the spark that wakes a sleeping giant.
