Liverpool’s Van Dijk Blasted By Rooney For Complaints About Early Kick-Off

Ex-Manchester United star Wayne Rooney dismissed Virgil van Dijk’s complaints about an early kick-off on Saturday after defeat to Everton and told him to “get on with it”.

Everton defeated Liverpool 2-0 at Goodison Park on Wednesday, providing a serious blow to Liverpool’s hopes of winning the Premier League title. Goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealed the victory. With just four games left in the season, including a meeting against West Ham on Saturday afternoon, the Reds are now three points behind league leaders Arsenal as a result of the loss.

READ ALSO: Jurgen Klopp Addresses Liverpool’s Title Chance After Everton

Van Dijk is not pleased with the 12:30pm kick-off on Saturday as he feels that the Premier League should have given them more time to recover following a Wednesday evening fixture. However, Rooney dismissed Van Dijk’s concerns, citing Liverpool’s recurrent complaints this season regarding early kick-off times following midweek matches and instead emphasised the professional obligation of Liverpool players to adapt.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Van Dijk said: “It’s time to focus on the 12:30 kick-off again. These games are always a big fight and something that we shouldn’t have lost in my opinion. Now we have to pick ourselves up and be ready for an early kick-off Saturday.”

Rooney rebuffed the defender’s grievances and said: “Again we are hearing about 12:30 kick-offs. Those Liverpool players should be wanting to go tomorrow because when you lose a derby game you want the games to come quick. Get on with it, it’s part of your jobs.”

The manager of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, has expressed his displeasure in the past over his team’s comparative disadvantage in playing a lot of midday matches. Klopp questioned the reasoning behind the scheduling decisions and their effect on players during the international break in November, criticising Liverpool’s match against Manchester City for a 12:30 pm kickoff time.

“How can you put a game like this on Saturday at 12.30 pm?” he said. “Honestly, the people making these decisions, they cannot feel football, it is just not possible. And it is the moment where the world pays the most to see a football game.”

Liverpool will kick off the fifth game of the season at 12:30 pm against West Ham. Whatever the reason, they have only won once in their previous four Premier League games, which include a home loss to Crystal Palace and a draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Their current form is worrisome. It will be difficult for Van Dijk and company to survive a mistake against the Hammers this weekend and still have a chance to win the championship.