Captain’s Interview: Van Dijk on the Impact of Departing Legends Robertson and Salah

Mohamed Salah. Andy Robertson and Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool after their sides 3-2 win during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Liverpool FC at St Mary's Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images) | Getty Images Speaking to Liverpoolfc.

com ahead of the pair’s final match, club captain Virgil Van Dijk was asked to sum up what Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah have done for the Reds: I think it’s pretty difficult to sum it up. Obviously in a good way, of course. They’ve meant so much to the club, they’ve meant so much to me personally, they have meant so much to all the successes that we have achieved over all those years.

And obviously as the human beings they are, I think it’s tough to replace that, it’s tough to move on from that, but that’s life as well. They have been absolutely amazing to be working with, to be playing with, to be having around and I’m 100 per cent going to miss them. Robertson played alongside Van Dijk in defense, and thus the Dutchman started there to characterize the left back’s abilities: I think in the case of Robbo, first and foremost obviously his talent, his quality on the pitch, his assists, his work-rate, it’s the complete package, I think, of a modern-day left-back.

Off the pitch, I think the way he is as a person, always up for a joke, always setting the standards in training and in games and is just a great character to be around. For me personally, it’s been a joy to have him on my left-hand side, and since I joined the club he was basically my left-back almost constantly and we know each other’s strengths pretty well and could make use of that quite a lot. It’s been an absolute privilege and pleasure to play with him on my left side.