- Liverpool’s title hopes suffered a major blow after a 2-0 defeat to Everton
- Van Dijk criticized the Reds’ performance before referring to their weekend match
- Phil Foden reveals what it’s REALLY like to play for Pep Guardiola in an It’s All Kicking Off special. Listen on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts
Wayne Rooney has told Virgil van Dijk that Liverpool should ‘get on with it’ and dismissed the Dutchman’s complaints about being forced to kick off early on Saturday after the Merseyside derby defeat.
Liverpool’s title hopes suffered a major blow at Goodison Park, with Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin on target as Everton won 2-0 on Wednesday evening.
The defeat leaves the Reds three points behind leaders Arsenal with four games remaining, starting with an away trip to West Ham on Saturday afternoon.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Van Dijk warned Liverpool faced an uphill battle to get ready for the 12.30pm kick-off at the London Stadium.
“It’s time to refocus on the 12:30 kick-off,” he said.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk referred to the Reds who will again have an early kick-off on Saturday
Wayne Rooney slammed Van Dijk’s comment as he insisted Liverpool ‘had to get on with it’
“These games are always a big battle and something that I don’t think we should have lost. Now we have to pick ourselves up and be ready for an early kick-off on Saturday.’
But Rooney insisted Liverpool were forced to ‘move on’ after repeated complaints this season about the kick-off after a midweek match.
“We hear again that kick-off is at 12.30,” he said.
“Those Liverpool players should want to go tomorrow because when you lose a derby match you want the games to come quickly.
‘Keep going, it’s part of your job.’
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has previously complained about the number of lunch games his side have had this season compared to their rivals.
After the international break in November, Klopp criticized the decision to move Liverpool’s visit to Manchester City from 5.30pm to the early kick-off.
“How can you put a game like that on a Saturday at 12:30?” he said.
“To be honest, the people making these decisions can’t feel football, it’s just not possible.
“And it’s the time when the world pays the most to see a football match.”
Saturday’s match will be Liverpool’s fifth kick-off of the season at 12.30pm, with Klopp previously highlighting the challenge that comes after midweek matches or players returning from international duty.
Van Dijk also admitted that Liverpool’s already slim chances of winning the title would disappear completely if a repeat of the Goodison Park performance occurred.
The Reds have now won just one of their last four Premier League matches, drawing with Manchester United at Old Trafford and losing at home to Crystal Palace last month.
Jurgen Klopp previously complained on Saturday about the early kick-off after a midweek match
“Listen, very disappointed in many ways and I think everyone needs to look in the mirror and look at their own performance and whether they really gave it their all and whether they really want to win the competition,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports.
‘We are fighting and still have games after tonight, but if we play as we did throughout the match, like today, without winning challenges and giving the referee the opportunity to give free kicks as he did so many times, then we have no chance. to win the title.
‘It is a difficult task and of course we have to do much better against a team that is [fighting] against relegation