"Mo has been like he should be: disappointed," van Dijk said. "But we need him, and he will still be an important part of our team. He is still a fantastic player, and we have to respect his success with the club."

Van Dijk acknowledged that Salah is going through a difficult period but emphasized that the forward's disappointment is a normal response to not playing well. He also noted that Salah's value to the team extends beyond his goal-scoring abilities and that he is an important leader.

"I need him around as one of the leaders," van Dijk said. "I'm not worried. He's disappointed, but that's absolutely normal. We're all trying to find consistency, and we need each other to be in our best shape."

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Salah's future with the team, van Dijk remains confident that he will continue to be a key player in the team's efforts to achieve success.

Liverpool will face Leeds United in their next match, a team that recently beat Chelsea. Salah's role in the team is likely to be reassessed before the match, but van Dijk's comments suggest that the forward remains an important part of the team's plans.