Van Dijk tells Salah to stay at Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk has told Mohamed Salah of his desire for him to stay at Liverpool in the January transfer window but accepts the situation is out of his control.

Salah caused a storm at Anfield when he accused certain members of the Liverpool hierarchy of "throwing him under a bus" and saying his relationship with manager Arne Slot had deteriorated, when speaking to the media in the aftermath of the 3-3 draw at Leeds United.

The Egyptian superstar was consequently dropped from the squad for the midweek Champions League win at Inter, though he did return to the squad for Saturday's 2-0 triumph over Brighton.

Salah was given a rousing reception from the stands when he replaced Joe Gomez and went on to assist Hugo Ekitike's second goal, consequently claiming the record for the most Premier League goal involvements for a single club.

He now has 188 goals and 89 assists for Liverpool in the competition, overtaking Wayne Rooney's record of 276 for Manchester United.

The 33-year-old will now depart for the Africa Cup of Nations, and it remains to be seen what will happen in the next transfer window, but Reds captain Van Dijk made it clear where he stands on the issue.

"Of course, I speak to him," Van Dijk said. "I speak about everything with him. Of course, I've told him I want him to stay. The rest I'm not going to tell you.

"I wish him all the best and come back, hopefully. I have no control over that. He is one of the leaders. I would love to have him around because he is one of the leaders. 

"But obviously, the fact is he is going to AFCON. I wish him absolutely all the best. We will be in contact over the next days and weeks, we always are. And then let's see."

Van Dijk also credited Slot for the way he has approached what has been a difficult situation.

"I think he's handled the situation very well. Calm in his own way. It is a very tricky situation," he added.

"There is a lot of noise and pressure from the outside world, obviously and rightly so, because we've not been up or close to the standard of last season, but we are human beings, and everyone reacts in a different way.

"But personally, looking at it and the conversations we've had on a daily basis, I think he's handled it very well. He's at a club where it is a together club, and that's how it's been before our time at the club, and that is something we have to keep going. 

"We go through the good times together as a team and fanbase. And when difficult moments arise, we also have to stick together.

"This moment in time is a very good moment to see how everyone responds, and the manager did perfectly so far."