Rooneys

“It doesn’t hurt me. Just to come back to this particular player, obviously a legend, a big player of the game who inspired so many, I can say only positive things but I feel that comment is just I would say it’s a bit of a lazy criticism.

“It’s easy to blame the other players but he knows we do it together, trying to help each and every one of us to try to get out of this. Last year when things go well you don’t hear that at all. It is what it is.

“[Pundits] have to do that job. He has an opinion and we have to deal with it. There’s no hard feelings. I don’t take it personally.”

Liverpool are third in the Premier League and seven points behind leaders Arsenal heading into a two crucial games this week.

Slot’s side host Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday before they visit Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.

“I’ve heard the reports as well about [Slot] being under pressure, but I don’t think we play at a club that makes rash decisions,” added Van Dijk.

“We all felt that we can work our way out of this. It’s not a guarantee, but we can do it together. As long as we believe, stay humble and keep working, we can do it, and we all have that feeling.”

FOOTIE legend Wayne Rooney has been booted into third place in the Soccer Aid shirt auction – by a boyband heartthrob and a rising telly star.

The former England skipper’s signed shirt is currently sitting at £1,578, but that’s still miles behind the top two.

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One Direction star Louis Tomlinson is topping the leaderboard with a whopping £5,364 bid for his England top – despite barely touching the ball on the pitch.

Coming in second is Bella Ramsey, the breakout star of The Last of Us and Game of Thrones, whose shirt has pulled in an impressive £1,731.

But it’s not just Rooney who’s struggling to get to the top in the footie world – Brazil legend Rivaldo’s shirt is number five, with a bid of £809.

The former Barcelona man is surprisingly beaten into fourth by Twitch streamer Morgan Burtwistle, better known online as AngryGinge.

Even more surprising, though, is the fact there’s no place in the top 10 for former Manchester City star Carlos Tevez.

Fans have been scrambling to snap up the signed shirts from this year’s charity clash, which raised £15.28million for UNICEF.

But Rooney’s spot behind Louis and Bella has raised a few eyebrows – especially considering he’s England’s all-time top scorer.

It just shows how fast the world of fame moves – especially when you step out of the limelight.

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Louis has a cult-like following, and his fans are proving they’ll do anything to get their hands on his kit.

And Bella’s fanbase is booming after she has been smashing it on screen.

The auction is still live but with bids flooding in it looks like pop power and screen stardom are winning this match.

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GARY LINEKER has roasted Wayne Rooney over his managerial record – live on the BBC.

The Manchester United legend joined Lineker for the Beeb’s coverage of the FA Cup final.

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Rooney, 39, has launched a media career after being sacked by Plymouth Argyle on New Year’s Eve.

The ex-England forward’s managerial record is chequered at best, with Argyle bottom of the Championship when he was axed.

Rooney has failed to achieve a win rate of over 30 per cent during stints with DC United, Derby County, Plymouth and Birmingham.

Lineker couldn’t resist sending a brutal dig Rooney’s way during the panel’s half-time analysis of Crystal Palace’s win over Manchester City.

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead into the break at Wembley thanks to Eberechi Eze’s goal.

Micah Richards asked Rooney: “Being a manager and you’re 1-0 up, what do you tell the players at half time?

“Do you change the way you play?”

Quick as a flash, Lineker quipped: “His teams were never 1-0 up.”

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The panel burst into laughter, with an apologetic Lineker adding: “Sorry Wayne!”

Laughing himself, Rooney hit back: “Let’s just get back to the game.”

The exchange quickly made its way onto social media.

One fan laughed in response: “Gary Lineker has just cooked Wayne Rooney, my God.”

Another said: “Lineker bodying Wayne Rooney is the best bit of the final so far

While a third joked: “Mr Lineker is off the leash today…brutal to Rooney at HT. Rate it.”

Lineker is leaving his role as Match of the Day host at the end of the Premier League season.

The 64-year-old has been in the MOTD hot seat since 1999.

Lineker will make his final appearance on the highlights show on May 25.

But he will continue to front the BBC’s live FA Cup coverage next season and will also lead the coverage of the 2026 World Cup finals.