Liverpool captain backs club icon to be honoured after hamstring injury in Crystal Palace win
Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk has insisted that Mohamed Salah will receive the farewell he deserves at Liverpool, even if injury prevents him from playing again this season.
Salah was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury during Liverpool’s 3-1 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace, raising doubts over whether he will feature again before his emotional departure from Anfield.
The 33-year-old forward, who will leave Liverpool after nine glittering years at the club, is awaiting scan results. With only four matches remaining in the season, there is growing concern that his final appearance for the Reds may have already come.
Van Dijk, speaking after the match, said emotions surrounding Salah’s situation were understandable but insisted the club would ensure a proper tribute regardless of his availability on the pitch.
“If you get injured at this stage of the season, especially in the situation he is in, there is only two more home games left for him, it’s a combination of feelings,” Van Dijk said.
“He will get the send-off regardless. I don’t think that is the thing at this point. We shouldn’t think too far ahead.”
The Liverpool captain also suggested that Salah’s professionalism and determination could still give him a chance of recovering in time, depending on the severity of the injury.
“Knowing Mo, he is a quick healer and with the right people around him, let’s see,” he added.
Since joining Liverpool in 2017, Salah has become one of the greatest players in the club’s history, scoring 257 goals in 440 appearances. Only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt sit above him in the all-time scoring charts.
During his time at Anfield, Salah has helped the club win the UEFA Champions League and two Premier League titles, playing a central role in Liverpool’s modern era of success.
He has also won the Premier League Golden Boot on four occasions and been named Players’ Player of the Year a record three times, cementing his status as a club legend.
Even if he does not return to the pitch this season, Liverpool are expected to plan a major farewell for one of their most iconic modern-era players.