Wayne Rooney has criticised Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk over comments he made in his post-match interview following the Reds’ 2-0 defeat away to Merseyside rivals Everton.
Jurgen Klopp’s side wilted at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening, with the Toffees’ physicality and directness causing all manner of problems for the Liverpool back-line.
It was no surprise when Jarrad Branthwaite opened the scoring for the hosts midway through the first half and although Liverpool created – and spurned – a number of good chances, the game was put to bed when Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed home a corner shortly before the hour-mark.
The defeat leaves Liverpool three points adrift of Arsenal in the Premier League title race, while they are just one point ahead of Manchester City who have two games in hand.
Van Dijk was brutally honest about the side’s below-par showing against Everton afterwards and felt they were not good enough in almost every department, though Rooney was not happy with a seemingly off-hand remark he made early in the interview.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Van Dijk made reference to the fact Liverpool have a quick turnaround before their next game, Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off away to West Ham, saying: ‘Now it’s time to focus on the 12.30pm kick-off again.’
He referenced it again a second time later on, adding: ‘Now we have to pick ourselves up and be ready for an early kick-off on Saturday again.’
But Rooney took umbrage with Van Dijk’s comments, interrupting host Kelly Cates after the interview was shown and digging out the Liverpool skipper, while he believes the kick-off complaint has been brought up too often by the Reds this season.
Interjecting following Van Dijk’s interview, Rooney said: ‘Sorry, I think the worrying thing there is – and I think it’s happened a lot throughout the season as well – he’s the captain and he’s saying about Liverpool getting out-fought.
‘But, again, we’re hearing about 12.30pm kick-offs after he’s just lost a derby!
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‘Now he, and that whole Liverpool team, should be wanting to be on the pitch tomorrow morning to get the next game going.
‘Because when you lose a game – especially a derby game – you want the next game to come quick.
‘And, again, we’ve heard it so, so many times this season with Liverpool about 12.30pm kick-offs. Get on with it! That’s part of your job, get on with it! And he should be ready to play.’
West Ham were hammered 5-2 by Crystal Palace in their last Premier League outing but have had a free week ahead of Liverpool’s visit to east London on Saturday.
