Wayne Rooney uses Zlatan Ibrahimovic anecdote as a warning to Virgil van Dijk - with Liverpool captain told ‘age’ has caught up with him

Rooney's Warning to Liverpool Stars

Wayne Rooney has warned Liverpool stalwarts Virgil van Dijk and Mohemmed Salah that "age gets to us all" as the legendary duo approach the twilight of their careers at Anfield.

Physical Demands of Elite Football

The former Manchester United captain suggested that even the club's most influential leaders are not immune to a decline in physical levels as they enter their mid-thirties.

• Virgil van Dijk is 34 years old
• Mohemmed Salah is 33 years old
• Both players have been fixtures in Liverpool's lineup, with Van Dijk making 51 appearances this term

Impact on Younger Players

Rooney argued that their perceived dip in form makes it increasingly difficult for younger players to establish their own authority.

"Age gets to us all"

Maintaining Standards

Rooney believes Van Dijk has struggled to maintain the imperious standards of previous campaigns.