Van Dijk Backs Salah After Brighton Win as Liverpool Face Crucial Weeks Under Slot

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk used the calm authority of a senior figure to deliver a clear message following the FA Cup win over Brighton: Mohamed Salah remains central to Liverpool’s ambitions. Speaking after the 3-0 victory reported by BBC Sport, van Dijk stressed both friendship and footballing necessity.

“Mo is still a leader and important for me, as a captain, to have around and to have him on the pitch and his presence benefits the team,” he said.

That message matters in a season shaped by transition under Arne Slot, with Liverpool balancing cup progress against uneven Premier League form. Salah’s goal and assist against Brighton served as a reminder that even in quieter spells, elite forwards often produce decisive moments. For Anfield Index readers tracking Liverpool’s xG swings and attacking output, this was another data point: Salah still drives Liverpool’s final-third productivity.

Brighton performance highlights Salah influence

Van Dijk was quick to push back against criticism of Salah’s recent scoring dip, reminding observers that elite forwards are judged against extraordinary standards.

“He always gives the team more than goals. There’s obviously a lot of focus on his goals at the moment because he puts the standards so extremely high, so when he doesn’t score as much he gets criticised.”

Against Brighton, Salah’s involvement illustrated that point. His movement dragged defenders, his assist unlocked space, and his penalty settled nerves. Liverpool under Slot still rely heavily on Salah’s gravity — a truth evident in shot-creation metrics and pressing triggers across recent matches.

For supporters analysing patterns from Sunderland through Brighton and into upcoming fixtures, Salah’s influence remains structural, not merely statistical.

Contract uncertainty shapes Salah future

Speculation over Salah’s future has lingered amid interest from Saudi Arabia and the approaching final years of his contract. Van Dijk acknowledged the uncertainty but framed it in pragmatic terms.

“[Mo is] the same as me – he’s got one more year [left on his contract] so we will see,” he said.

Yet he also made his preference unmistakable.

“I always want Mo to stay because I’m a good friend of his and we’ve been through the highs and not-so-highs – I don’t want to call them lows – together for so many years.”

Such comments carry weight inside dressing rooms. Leaders rarely speak casually about teammates’ futures. Salah’s 252 Liverpool goals and record-equalling assist tally alongside Steven Gerrard underline his historical significance, and losing him would reshape Liverpool’s attack as dramatically as any tactical tweak Slot might attempt.

Slot era pressure frames Liverpool expectations

Liverpool’s sixth-place league position, with 12 wins from 26 matches, reflects the challenge facing Slot in his first season. Van Dijk’s remarks about Salah were also a defence of continuity amid change.

“Mo is a very important Liverpool player who has set the bar extremely high. I can only say for us nothing has changed.”

He added a reminder of unseen work behind the scenes.

“There are so many things people don’t see what is important to try to become a successful team. Let’s see for the rest of the season how important he still is and can be.”

For Liverpool, Brighton was both a result and a signal. Salah’s quality endures. Van Dijk’s leadership remains steady. Slot’s rebuild continues.