By WILL GRIFFEE
Published: 18:33 EST, 9 December 2025 | Updated: 18:33 EST, 9 December 2025
Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson were grilled on the Mo Salah saga after Liverpool's 1-0 away win over Inter Milan on Tuesday night.
Victory at San Siro offered respite to the team and under-pressure Arne Slot, who left Salah at home after the winger's extraordinary interview in Leeds claiming he was 'being thrown under the bus'.
The soap opera has generated interest around the world and created a hugely difficult situation for the club to navigate.
When asked about his thoughts on the matter, club captain Van Dijk told Amazon Prime: 'It's difficult but it's a collective difficult situation that we're all in. Between Mo and the club, things are going on and he's not here today, that's the reality. I don't think anything has changed in terms of our focus and determination.
'I'm not the one to speak if someone has to apologise. It's him airing his feelings for the past couple of days.
'That's something the club has to deal with, obviously, me as well. The focus was there, nothing else changed. He trained as well.'
Andy Robertson (right) and Virgil van Dijk (left) gave their verdict on the Mo Salah saga
Arne Slot's side earned a vital win over Inter Milan to stabilise themselves after a tough week
He added: 'The reality also is that Mo is going to Africa soon. I've known him for such a long time, we are good friends and have been through highs and lows.
'We speak and those types of things will stay indoors as it should be. We have to brace ourselves and be against the outside noise.
'The most important thing is that you speak with each other. You have to recover and get back to Brighton already. You have to celebrate good moments and enjoy it otherwise, what's the point of winning? We stay overnight here, we have to sleep well and eat well. We try to never get too high or too low.'
Robertson is also one of the more experienced heads in the Liverpool team and has shared a dressing room with Salah for years.
He admitted it is a 'tough' situation but insisted the squad remain 'all together'.
The Scottish full-back said: 'It is a tough situation. We're talking about one of the greatest players to play for this club. I signed in the same window as him. Whatever has happened, happened. Internally, we're all together.
On Salah's future, he went on: 'That'll be up to other people, it's not up to me. I love playing with Mo Salah and I hope to continue playing with him.
'We know how important being in that top eight is and avoiding a play-off. We got unlucky last season with who we drew.'
Salah gave an explosive interview on Saturday, where he suggested he no longer had a relationship with Liverpool boss Arne Slot and that he had been 'thrown under the bus'
Van Dijk insisted his conversations with the Egyptian would take place behind closed doors
Dominik Szoboszlai's late penalty after Florian Wirtz's shirt was pulled in the box proved decisive on a night of fine margins in northern Italy.
Liverpool arrived under a cloud of the Salah interview on Saturday evening.
In an extraordinary interview in the mixed zone at Elland Road, Salah said: 'I could not believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,' he said. 'That's the third time. It's the first time in my career I think.
'(I am) very disappointed, I have done so much for this club over the years, especially last season. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That's how I feel.
'Someone wants me to get all the blame. The club promised me a lot in summer. Now I'm on bench so I can say they haven't kept those promises.
'I used to have a good relationship (with manager Slot). Now we don't have any relationship and I don't know why.'
Salah trained with the group this week but was not included in the travelling party
The 33-year-old signed a two-year mega-money deal, which runs until summer 2027, earlier this season. Clubs in Saudi Arabia, the United States and now Europe are on red alert over his future.
Liverpool could have done with Salah's cutting edge against Inter but have appeared a far more solid proposition since Slot opted to drop the talisman who spear-headed last season's title run.
It remains to be seen whether the Egyptian will be reintegrated into the group or have to apologise for his comments.
Liverpool play Brighton before Salah heads to AFCON and it could yet prove to be his final game at the club if a January exit is negotiated.