Captain Virgil van Dijk emphasized that Liverpool “are absolutely united and go forward as one” following the return of Mohamed Salah for the team’s 2-0 victory against Brighton. Salah made his first appearance since expressing discontent after last weekend’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Leeds, where he claimed he was “thrown under the bus” by the club.
The 33-year-old forward had been excluded from the squad for the midweek Champions League match against Inter Milan but made a significant comeback against Brighton, contributing an assist to secure the win. Salah is set to join the Egypt national team for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) on Monday, a tournament that could see him miss up to eight games for Liverpool if Egypt progresses to the final on January 18.
Reflecting on the team spirit, Van Dijk noted, “We showed this week that we are absolutely united. We go forward as one.” The defender, who reached a milestone of 250 Premier League appearances for Liverpool during the match, expressed hope for Salah’s success in the tournament, stating, “We all hope that he’ll be successful there and he’ll come back and be important for us for the rest of the season.”
Van Dijk also acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Salah’s situation, saying, “The other side of it is that we all know football and we have no idea what is going to happen. I hope that he stays because he is one of my leaders and still very important for the football club. But there are more parties to this situation.” As Liverpool navigates the rest of the season, the unity and support amongst teammates, especially for Salah, reflects the resilience of the squad in the face of challenges.
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