Updated:
2 min read
Make us your Google favourite
Virgil van Dijk believes no other winger is capable of replicating the goalscoring heroics of Mohamed Salah at Liverpool.
Salah brought down the curtain on his legendary Liverpool career by leaving on a free transfer at the end of last season. He joined Turkish outfit Trabzonspor in August.
The Egypt star walked away from Anfield as the third top scorer in the club’s history, having netted an incredible 257 times in 442 games.
Liverpool ran the rule over several right-sided attackers as they looked to land a natural replacement for Salah in the summer transfer window.
The Reds considered the merits of Brighton and Hove Albion’s Yankuba Minteh, Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr and Ibrahim Mbaye before he joined Aston Villa.
However, none of those players joined Liverpool as the club instead signed Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola from Osasuna and Paris Saint-Germain respectively.
As the rumour mill continues to churn ahead of the transfer window reopening in January, Van Dijk insists nobody can produce what Salah did for Liverpool.
Speaking after Sunday’s win over Brighton, the centre-back said: “What Mo has done for so many years as a winger, I don’t think anyone can replicate that.
“Hopefully it is going to happen but what he did was incredible. The same goes with Sadio [Mane] and Bobby [Roberto Firmino].”
Van Dijk wants more from Barcola, Munoz, Ngumoha & Gakpo
After missing out on signing a natural right winger, Liverpool quartet Munoz, Barcola, Rio Ngumoha and Cody Gakpo have shared the load on that side of the pitch this term.
And all four players have stepped up to the plate to help Liverpool rise to fourth in the Premier League table under head coach Andoni Iraola.
Van Dijk wants all four players to continue producing the goods as the Merseysiders look to bounce back from a disappointing season last term.
He said: “We can always think it was better back in the day but that is not the mentality that it should be at a club like Liverpool and I don’t feel it has ever been.
“The club will always move on at a certain point and there are always players who will shine and perform for the club.
“It is down to these players who are here now to show it every three or four days.”
France international Barcola was deployed on the right flank against Brighton and teed up Alexander Isak as Liverpool recorded an impressive 2-0 win at home.
Alexander Isak scores to double Liverpool’s lead at Anfield! 💥 https://t.co/oYs2jnHZEb
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 25, 2026
“The second goal was class but there are plenty of moments already this season that they (Munoz, Barcola, Gakpo) have been very good,” added Van Dijk.
“At a club like Liverpool you have to do it every three or four days. That is always the challenge, but it is a nice challenge. I’m pretty confident that it is going to be fine.”
Liverpool return to action when they entertain Chelsea in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.
Related stories:
Transfer Rumours: Chelsea ‘agree’ personal terms with Scott as January deal ready to be confirmed
How Man Utd will line up under Eddie Howe
Man Utd’s next big problem – persuading anyone to join them
