Virgil van Dijk SLAMS Manchester United legend after win over Real Madrid

Last Updated on 6 November 2025

Liverpool’s Champions League night at Anfield wasn’t just about the result, it was about redemption and rivalry.

Moments after leading Liverpool to a dominant win over Real Madrid, Virgil van Dijk took centre stage for another battle.

This time off the pitch, as he confronted a Manchester United legend over recent criticism.

‘If you watch games…’, Virgil van Dijk faces Wayne Rooney head on

Pitchside at Anfield, moments after Liverpool’s big win, Virgil van Dijk walked straight up to Wayne Rooney, the man who had recently accused him of “switching off” after signing his new deal.

“Of course, if you lose four or five games in a row as a Liverpool player then it is a fair criticism. That is absolutely normal in that sense,” said Virgil, as per the BBC. “But I think it is over the top at times as well at that point.”

The Manchester United legend, stood in close proximity had a great idea that the conversation was around his comments. van Dijk continued, “I think it is good that ex-players who played at the highest level who dealt with difficult moments as well puts a lot in perspective.”

Rooney responded, “I think what I’ve said was fair when you win the Premier League and then go on a run where you lose three or four games in a row, which you don’t expect from Liverpool over the last few years.”

He added, “As Virgil is captain I think that is your opportunity to go and lead the players and that is what I was saying.”

The Liverpool captain delivered a final blow, “I think if you watched games then I would definitely take responsibility. I think the comment that I signed my new deal and then it was like ‘that is it’ and I let it slide. I think that was a bit… but that’s my personal opinion and we move on.”

Liverpool keep back-to-back cleansheets to make it two wins in two

After a torrid October, Liverpool seem to be back on track in November, winning against Aston Villa and Real Madrid.

For the Reds, it was a poor defence that led to so many losses, having conceded early on, in almost all of their games in October.

That has been put right, at least in the last two games, with the Premier League champions keeping back-to-back cleansheets for only the second time, this season.

To keep the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior takes some doing and Liverpool will hope they can carry that momentum against another in-form attacker, Erling Haaland.

The Merseyside club will play Manchester City on Sunday in the Premier League, in what promises to be a blockbuster fixture between the 2nd and 3rd placed sides.