Rooney Urges Arne Slot To Leave Mohamed Salah Out Of Liverpool’s Starting XI
Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has criticised Mohamed Salah over Liverpool’s recent struggles, urging the club manager, Arne Slot, to consider leaving the Egyptian out of the starting lineup.
Liverpool suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, a match in which Salah, who has scored five goals this season, neither scored nor assisted.
Speaking on his podcast, Rooney said: “If I was Slot, I’d try and make a big decision just so it has an impact on the rest of the team. Salah is not helping them defensively.
“If you’re one of the players who they’ve signed and you’re on the bench and you’ve seen him not running – and again he’s a club legend and everything he’s done for the club – but if you’re on the bench, then what message does that send to you?”
The 33-year-old forward became the first player in Premier League history to finish a season leading in both goals and assists while also winning the Player of the Season award.
Salah’s form helped Slot win the title in his first season as Liverpool manager, succeeding Jurgen Klopp.
However, after a busy summer transfer window that included signing Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak for a combined £241m, Liverpool have struggled. They currently sit 11th in the Premier League with 18 points from 12 games.
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Rooney added: “They’re going through a hard time, aren’t they? You’ve probably got to look at the effect of what sadly happened to Jota.
“What effect does that have on the players because that’s his team-mates? That surely has to have an effect. But then there’s no excuse for not fighting and not tackling.”
With just one win in their past seven league games, the pressure on Arne Slot is growing, and comparisons to Klopp are increasing.
Rooney continued: “I think Slot’s got a big job to get them back playing and winning. The big thing is when he has a run of results like this, Klopp’s name keeps getting brought up.
“It’s a bit like the presence with Sir Alex Ferguson. For instance, when David Moyes came in [at Manchester United] and [Louis] Van Gaal, Fergie’s name would always get brought up.
“With Slot, Klopp keeps getting brought up. ‘He’s not Jurgen Klopp, he’s not as good as Jurgen Klopp’. But I think the Liverpool fans just need to move away from that and get behind him.”
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