Virgil van Dijk has insisted he wants 'leader' Mohamed Salah to stay at Liverpool despite his run-in with manager Arne Slot.
The Egyptian returned to the pitch for the Reds, entering the fray as a first-half substitute for Joe Gomez in their 2-0 win over Brighton.
Van Dijk is keen to see Salah remain at Anfield after the Africa Cup of Nations
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Van Dijk is keen to see Salah remain at Anfield after the Africa Cup of NationsCredit: Getty
He did so to great effect too, assisting Hugo Ekitike's second goal of the game via a corner kick.
Salah had been embroiled in a huge furore this week after a controversial post-match interview last weekend.
Having been benched for three straight games during Liverpool's recent struggles, he hit out after not playing a minute of their 3-3 draw with Wolves.
In the mixed zone he revealed he felt the club had 'thrown him under the bus', while insisting he had 'no relationship' with Slot.
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He also added it had seemed to him that 'someone' didn't want him at the club.
After those comments he was left out of Liverpool's squad to face Inter Milan in the San Siro.
Salah returned against Brighton though after clear the air talks with manager Slot but he will now join up with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations, which could see him miss a month of Premier League action.
Teammate and captain Van Dijk though insists he goes to the tournament with well wishes.
Not only that, the Dutchman is hoping the 33-year-old, who became the player with the most goals and assists (277) for a single club in the Premier League, returns to the Liverpool team, despite rumours of a January transfer.
He told reporters: "I wish him absolutely all the best there. And come back, hopefully."
Salah waved to fans and tapped the Liverpool crest after the game but it didn't appear to be an emotional goodbye
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Salah waved to fans and tapped the Liverpool crest after the game but it didn't appear to be an emotional goodbyeCredit: Getty
Queried on the 'hopefully' comment, he said: "Yes, I have no control on any of that.
"I would love to have him around because he is one of the leaders, but obviously the matter of fact is that he's going to AFCON. I wish him absolutely all the best. Obviously we will be in contact over the next days, weeks, and we always are. And then let's see."
Pushed on why the situation had occurred, he replied: "There's someone else you have to ask the question to, isn't it?"
Asked if he'd spoken to Salah about the whole scenario, he added: "Of course I spoke to him. I speak about everything with him.
"Of course, I told him I want him to stay. The rest I'm not going to tell you."
Asked how he himself has kept the dressing room united during a tough season for the reigning champions, he replied: "Well, first and foremost it's not about me, it's about the rest of the team.
Salah started the game against Brighton on the bench after missing the clash against Inter Milan
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Salah started the game against Brighton on the bench after missing the clash against Inter MilanCredit: Getty
"I speak to Mo, I speak to almost all the players. Obviously I hear, observe, and that's the most important thing. If you feel like it could be a problem within the squad, and it could affect the performances, then obviously you have a different story. But I think we showed this week that we are absolutely united.
"And we go forward as one. Mo is going to the Africa Cup. We all hope he's going to be absolutely successful there, and we all hope that he's coming back and be important for us for the rest of the season. But, on the other side of it, we all know football, we have no idea what's going to happen.
"I hope that he'll stay, because he's one of my leaders. He's very important, and still is. You see today he got another assist. He's still important for the Football Club.
"But, like I said, there's more parties to this situation."
He added: "I want him to stay. Hopefully he's here after he comes back after winning the Africa Cup."
Asked if the situation had affected his teammates, Van Dijk replied. "No. Did you see the performances?
Slot and Salah appear to have buried the hatchet for the time being
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Slot and Salah appear to have buried the hatchet for the time beingCredit: Getty
"Obviously it's… I think what is the reality of the situation is that it's just bringing so much noise. So obviously me as a captain, I have to deal with how the boys will react to it. And I think the boys reacted perfectly fine.
"Mo reacted in the end perfectly fine as well. And he was good today. He was good Sunday, Monday when we were training. Obviously he didn't travel.
"And we trained on Friday, yesterday together, and he was perfectly fine too.
"So, you know, it's all about how the team reacts. But in my eyes and what I see and how I speak to the guys, I think everyone handled it perfectly well."
Pressed on how Slot had dealt with an incredibly intense time in recent weeks, Van Dijk said: "I think he's handled the situation very well. Calm in his own way.
"It's a very tricky situation. There's a lot of noise, pressure from the outside world.
Liverpool fans were fully behind Salah, cheering the iconic Egyptian's arrival onto the pitch as a substitute
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Liverpool fans were fully behind Salah, cheering the iconic Egyptian's arrival onto the pitch as a substituteCredit: Getty
"Obviously, and rightly so, because we have not been up or close to the standard that we have been showing last season but obviously we are human beings and everyone reacts in a certain way and can deal with the situation in a certain way.
"I think personally, looking at it and the conversation we both have on a daily basis, I think he handled it very well. And we just have to keep going.
"He's obviously at a club that is a very together club, and that's how it's been before our time at the club. That's something that we have to keep going.
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"We go through the good times together, as a team, as a club, as a fan base. And sometimes when difficult moments arise, we also have to stick together.
"I think this moment of time is a very good moment to see how everyone responds to that, and I think the manager did perfectly so far."