Virgil van Dijk Getty Images January 22, 2026, 7:45 p.m

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk publicly criticized a journalist for an inappropriate question to the team’s head coach Arne Slot. The incident happened at a press conference before the Champions League match against Marseille, where the Merseysiders won a convincing 3-0 victory.

Ahead of the game, Arne Slot was asked by a reporter if Xabi Alonso (who was recently sacked as Real Madrid coach) had contacted him about a possible replacement at Liverpool. This question infuriated the captain of the team. The Dutch defender did not mince words when commenting on the situation after the match

“I think it was very disrespectful. Criticism is part of the game, we all know that, but I think that’s why he [журналіста] not here today,” said the Liverpool leader.

Van Dijk also emphasized that despite the difficult part of the season and problems with stability, the team fully supports its mentor: “The season seemed difficult for us and for the coach, but, in my opinion, he coped with it very well. After all, we work in a field where everything is decided by the results, and we are all judged by them,” the captain emphasized.

It’s worth noting that despite media pressure and rumors of a return for club legend Xabi Alonso, Slott’s Liverpool are currently on a 13-match unbeaten run.