After the Merseyside Derby, Wayne Rooney commented critically on Virgil van Dijk's interview. The captain of the losing team – Liverpool lost 2-0 – expressed his dissatisfaction with the early start time of next Saturday's match against West Ham United. According to Rooney, Van Dijk and associates should want to be on the field 'tomorrow morning'. “Especially if you lose a derby,” said the former striker.

Van Dijk and associates lost 2-0 to arch-rival Everton on Wednesday, with which they suffered an ugly blow in the title battle. Liverpool is second, has one point less than leader Arsenal, and number three Manchester City – which again has one point less than Liverpool – still has two matches in hand.

With four rounds to go, the title seems to be a difficult task the Reds. Van Dijk also recognizes this, who was very critical of his team after the derby.

“That Liverpool team should be wanting to be on the pitch tomorrow” ??

Wayne Rooney says Liverpool need to get on with it ?? pic.twitter.com/jKyiPQQYOJ

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 24, 2024

“I am very disappointed, in many ways. I think everyone should look in the mirror, check whether they have given everything and really want to win the competition. We have to do much better against a relegation candidate,” said the 66- times Oranje-international.

However, it wasn't the words that got Rooney wrong. That concerned the last sentence of Van Dijk's interview: “Now it is time to focus on the 12.30 kick-off.” The 32-year-old man marker made a telling reference to Saturday's match against West Ham.

Liverpool believes that it gets a disproportionate number of 'lunch matches' compared to the competition. Jürgen Klopp, among others, has already been critical of this this season. “The people who make these decisions do not understand football. It is simply impossible,” the Liverpool coach said in November, when the away match at Manchester City was moved from the afternoon to lunchtime.

Rooney believes that Van Dijk should not complain in any case. “He is the captain and it is again about those matches at 12.30 pm,” said the former striker at Sky Sports. “He's just lost a derby, that Liverpool team should want to be on the pitch tomorrow morning. When you lose a game, you want the next one to come as quickly as possible, especially in a derby.”

Liverpool still has four games to give the departing Klopp a possible fairytale ending. In addition to the fixture with West Ham, meetings with Tottenham Hotspur

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