Wayne Rooney has urged Liverpool manager Arne Slot to make a “big decision” regarding club legend Mohamed Salah, suggesting the Egyptian’s current form is sending the wrong message to the team.
The call comes after Liverpool’s 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, a match in which Salah failed to score or assist. Rooney, speaking on his podcast, pointed to Salah’s lack of defensive effort as a particular problem.
“Salah is not helping them defensively,” Rooney said. “If you’re one of the players on the bench and you’ve seen him not running… what message does that send to you?”
This critique comes despite Salah’s historic achievement last season, where he led the Premier League in both goals and assists. Liverpool’s current form is a stark contrast; the team sits 11th in the table with just one win in their last seven league matches.
Rooney also acknowledged the possible emotional impact of Diogo Jota’s recent serious injury on the squad but stressed that “there’s no excuse for not fighting.”
He further cautioned that Slot is facing an inevitable comparison to his iconic predecessor, Jurgen Klopp. “It’s a bit like the presence with Sir Alex Ferguson,” Rooney said, referring to the difficult transitions at Manchester United. He urged Liverpool fans to “move away from that and get behind him,” as the shadow of Klopp “looms over” the current manager.
By James Kisoo
