“Completely Wrong in Every Way” – Wayne Rooney Criticizes “Lazy” Liverpool Star After PSG Defeat
Wayne Rooney didn’t hold back in his criticism of Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, calling him “lazy” for his role in Paris Saint-Germain’s opening goal at Anfield.
Ousmane Dembélé’s strike leveled the tie after Liverpool’s 1-0 win in Paris, before PSG eventually triumphed on penalties to eliminate the Reds from the Champions League—a major blow for Arne Slot’s side, who were considered strong contenders for the trophy.
Rooney Calls Out Van Dijk’s Defensive Lapse
Speaking on Prime Video Sport (via Metro), Rooney was particularly unimpressed with Van Dijk’s positioning and effort in the buildup to PSG’s goal.
“This goal from Liverpool’s point of view is wrong in so many different ways,” Rooney said. “They are trying to press the ball, and Van Dijk gets lazy. If you watch him, he’s walking and leaves a massive gap for Dembélé.”
He continued: “All he has to do is step across to Dembélé because there’s no other pass available for PSG, but he doesn’t. Now Dembélé has loads of space. Konaté doesn’t switch on either, and it’s an easy tap-in.”
Van Dijk’s Off Night Cost Liverpool
Although Van Dijk is usually a rock at the back for Liverpool, this wasn’t his best performance in what turned out to be a difficult tie.
Even in their first-leg victory, Liverpool relied heavily on Alisson Becker’s heroics, with the Brazilian goalkeeper producing a series of crucial saves to keep PSG at bay. Ultimately, Luis Enrique’s side deserved their place in the quarter-finals, leaving Liverpool with a bitter exit from the competition.
