Van Dijk Defends Slot as Liverpool Silence Marseille Noise

Liverpool’s night in Marseille was meant to be about control, authority and a sense of rediscovered rhythm. Instead, the post match conversation briefly veered towards something far more familiar in modern football, speculation, rumour and the restless curiosity about what comes next.

Virgil van Dijk, speaking as captain and custodian of standards, had little patience for it. The timing of a question put to Arne Slot, linking Xabi Alonso to the Liverpool job, cut against what Liverpool were trying to do in Europe and, in Van Dijk’s view, crossed a line.

Respect for Slot amid Liverpool scrutiny

The Dutch defender did not hide his feelings.
“That (question) was disrespectful,” said the Dutch defender.

It was a clear defence of Slot, a manager still carving out his authority at Anfield, still being judged through the lens of transition and expectation. Van Dijk acknowledged that criticism exists, and that it is shaped by recent seasons, but his message was that respect for the role and the process still matters.

“Criticism is justified if you look at what we are doing in the season, especially based on last season.
“It’s been a difficult part of the season for us players and the manager as well but he has handled it well.”

For Liverpool, this was not just about protecting their head coach. It was about drawing a boundary. In an era where managerial speculation can become a storyline in itself, Van Dijk’s words served as a reminder that stability, or at least the appearance of it, remains valuable.

Marseille performance gives Liverpool momentum

What strengthened Van Dijk’s position was what happened on the pitch. Liverpool’s 3-0 win in Marseille was one of their most convincing European displays of the campaign, a night where control replaced chaos and efficiency replaced anxiety.

Van Dijk, making his 350th appearance for the club, framed it in personal and collective terms.
“To play my 350th game, win 3-0 and keep a clean sheet, that’s something I’m proud of,” said the 34-year-old.

It was the sort of performance that allows a captain to speak with authority. Liverpool looked organised, measured and serious, qualities Slot has been striving to embed since his arrival.

Champions League path taking shape

The victory leaves Liverpool well placed in the league phase. A top eight finish, and with it direct qualification for the last 16, is within reach. Hosting Qarabag next week, Liverpool know that another win could secure a automatic slot and a favourable draw later in the competition.

For Slot, European progress offers both breathing space and credibility. In a season where domestic form has stuttered, Europe provides a parallel narrative, one where Liverpool can still look like a team moving forward rather than treading water.

Premier League focus remains fragile

Yet Van Dijk’s gaze was already shifting back to the league. Bournemouth awaits, and with it the more uncomfortable truth of Liverpool’s domestic campaign. Unbeaten in 13 matches, but with only four league wins in ten, Liverpool sit fourth, adrift of Arsenal and under pressure from a tightly packed chasing group.

In that context, Van Dijk’s defence of Slot felt less like a soundbite and more like a statement of intent. Liverpool are not finished, and neither, in their captain’s view, is their manager.