Van Dijk gives verdict on ‘negative’ views about Liverpool star Salah

Virgil van Dijk has hit back at those who continue to doubt Mohamed Salah after his opening day hat-trick against Leeds.

Liverpool were forced to dig deep to see off the newly promoted side with the Egyptian’s late penalty sealing a 4-3 win.

Salah has smashed the 20 goal barrier in each of his three Premier League seasons at Anfield as he edges towards the 100 goal mark.

But the former Roma man is not alien to criticism with his Dutch team-mate questioning how he remains under-rated by some.

He told BeIN Sports when asked about Salah’s reputation: “That’s the media, that’s you guys who doubt him.

“Obviously, we appreciate it and him, and that’s the most important thing for him as well.

“We don’t see the negative part of what the media says.”

Salah’s first also came from the penalty spot before he smashed home Liverpool’s third on the half hour mark.

Van Dijk headed home the Reds’ second but was at fault for Leeds’ second equaliser.

The defender attempted to hook away a clearance, but it fell perfectly for Patrick Bamford who slotted past Alisson.

Mistakes and Van Dijk rarely go hand in hand and the 29-year-old has played down his error.

“I tried my best, I don’t worry about them,” he said.

“It’s one of those, I think. It’s a situation that can happen.

“I try to do my best and that’s what I did. Unfortunately, a goal came out of it, but I don’t worry about that.”

Shipping three goals was a brilliant spectacle for fans, but Klopp was keen to understand how the seven-goal thriller unfolded.

“What a game, what an opponent, what a performance from both teams. A proper spectacle, I loved that,” he said

“It is pretty rare you see that many goals in a game,

“We will not go home and have a few beers on that result. We need to analyse it.”