Virgil van Dijk says Mohamed Salah’s recent spell on the sidelines is a reminder that no one in the Liverpool squad is guaranteed a place, regardless of past achievements.

The Egyptian forward was left out of the starting XI for the second match in a row, watching Sunday’s victory over West Ham from the bench before again being named among the substitutes for Wednesday’s 1–1 draw against Sunderland at Anfield. It marks the first time in his Liverpool career that he has not started consecutive league games.

Salah was introduced at half-time against Sunderland but failed to influence the game, extending his goalless run to five matches. His season tally stands at just four Premier League goals, a sharp drop from the 29 he scored during Liverpool’s title-winning campaign last year.

Asked whether Salah’s omission sent a message to the rest of the squad, Van Dijk was clear:

“That’s always been the case. It’s not like you have unlimited credit — everyone has to perform. Mo has been doing that, but the manager made that decision in the last two games. We all want the best for the club.”

Despite the dip in form, the Liverpool captain backed Salah to play a major role moving forward.

“I’m pretty sure Mo will still be a big part of what we’re trying to achieve,” he said. “He’s an amazing player and he has shown it consistently.”

Van Dijk also highlighted the growing influence of Florian Wirtz, whose late strike — deflecting off Nordi Mukiele — rescued a point for Liverpool and kept them in eighth place.

Signed for £116 million from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, the young German has endured a tricky start but is beginning to show why Liverpool made such a significant investment.

“There’s a very good reason why a club like ours bought him,” Van Dijk said. “He’s a world-class talent who will only get better, but it will take time. He just needs to stay level-headed and avoid getting caught up in what’s said outside — whether things are going well or badly.”

Van Dijk added that players should not be judged solely on goals, assists, or clean sheets.

“It’s also about what you contribute for the team — the things people don’t always see.”