Wayne Rooney has labelled Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk as “lazy” after the Reds conceded to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
After winning the first leg of their Champions League tie 1-0 in Paris last week, the Reds found themselves trailing at Anfield in the return leg after 12 minutes after Ousmane Dembele scored from close range.
It was Dembele who started the move, firing the ball out wide to Bradley Barcola before sprinting into the box to collect the return pass. Despite being under pressure from Dominik Szoboszlai and Ibrahima Konate, with Alisson rushing out, Dembele somehow managed to bundle the ball home, giving PSG the lead.
And former Manchester United striker Rooney was left bereft at Van Dijk’s ‘laziness’, blaming the Liverpool skipper for not sensing the danger prior to Dembele’s goal.
Speaking on Amazon Prime at half-time, Rooney said: “This goal from Liverpool’s point of view is wrong in so many ways. Van Dijk gets lazy. He is walking and leaves a massive gap to Dembele.
“All he needs to do is come across and cover. Dembele has a lot of space and gets the ball out wide. Konate doesn’t switch on and then Dembele gets the tap in.”
Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge also gave his take on the PSG goal, adding he believes the Reds defense needed to communicate better.
Sturridge, who praised Dembele for “staying engaged”, said: “It is communication in moments like this. Virgil, Konate, Szoboszlai. Fair play to Dembele for staying engaged and following the chance. He finds himself in a position to score but Liverpool will be very upset.”
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Following PSG’s opener, neither side were able to find the back of the net in 90 minutes again, which meant the game went to extra-time.
However, Arne Slot will be left worried by the fact full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold had to come off in the second half after landing awkwardly on the sideline, with Jarell Quansah coming on in his place.
And it is now also unclear whether or not Alexander-Arnold will be fit to face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final this weekend too.
Liverpool.com says: “The goal Liverpool conceded against PSG was not the finest moment for the Reds defense, with Ousmane Dembele capitalizing on some sloppy defending. Liverpool were given plenty of warning about just how dangerous PSG’s attack could be in the first leg of the tie.”
