Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk believes Mohamed Salah’s absence from the starting XI in consecutive Premier League matches underscores a fundamental principle at the club: selection is earned through current performance, not past achievements.
Salah, 33, remained an unused substitute during Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over West Ham United on Sunday, before featuring only from the bench in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Sunderland. Despite signing a two-year contract extension in April, the Egyptian winger has found consistency difficult to maintain this season, scoring five goals across 19 appearances in all competitions—numbers that fall short of his influential form during Liverpool’s title-winning campaign last year.
Speaking after the Sunderland match, Van Dijk reiterated that merit-based selection has always defined Liverpool’s standards.
“Everyone has to perform—there’s no unlimited credit here,” he said. “Mo has done that for years, but the manager made a decision in the last two matches. We all want what’s best for the club.”
The Dutch defender, however, stressed that Salah remains integral to Liverpool’s long-term ambitions.
“I’m sure Mo will still play a major role. He’s a world-class player and has consistently proven that throughout his time at the club.”
Liverpool currently sit ninth in the Premier League table with 22 points from 14 games, 11 behind leaders Arsenal, despite investing heavily—£446 million ($594.52 million)—during the summer window.
Van Dijk acknowledged that a return to peak form from Salah could be pivotal in steadying Liverpool’s season:
“He is still a fantastic player. His success here speaks for itself and deserves respect, but we need him operating at his best.”
With the club struggling to find rhythm, the message is clear: reputation alone is not enough—performance must earn the shirt, even for a player of Salah’s stature.
