Rooney Urges Slot to Drop Salah as Liverpool Struggles Continue

Wayne Rooney has called for Arne Slot to consider dropping Mohamed Salah from Liverpool’s starting lineup in a bid to reignite the team’s faltering form. Following a 3-0 defeat at home on Saturday, Liverpool now sits in 11th place in the Premier League, a significant 11 points behind the leaders. The loss marked the team’s sixth setback in their last seven league matches.

Salah’s performance against the opposition was notably below par, as he failed to score or provide any assists during the match. This disappointing result, coupled with a prior league defeat, has seen Liverpool concede six unanswered goals in just two games. Rooney, speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, expressed concern over Salah’s impact on the team, particularly in terms of defensive contributions.

“Salah is not helping them defensively,” Rooney stated. “If you’re one of the players they’ve signed and you’re sitting on the bench, seeing a teammate not running back while starting every game sends a confusing message.”

He further elaborated, suggesting that if he were in Slot’s position, he would take decisive action to improve the team’s dynamics. “When you’re not winning games, you want to stay compact and hard to beat,” he added. “Slot needs to make a decision that emphasizes the need for every player to contribute defensively. Once they start winning, he can reintegrate Salah into the lineup.”

Rooney’s criticism extended beyond Salah, highlighting a broader issue with several senior players underperforming. “They haven’t been great at all, and that’s not just Virgil van Dijk and Salah,” he noted. “Players like Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch also need to step up. They have to rally behind the team and help create a winning atmosphere.”

The former Manchester United player also pointed to the emotional toll of recent events on the squad, particularly the death of a teammate, Diogo Jota. “They’re going through a hard time, aren’t they? You have to consider how the situation with Jota has affected the players. It’s a tough reality when you work closely with someone every day,” Rooney reflected.

As Liverpool navigates this challenging period, Rooney’s insights offer a glimpse into the complexities of team dynamics and the pressures professional athletes face. With the next match approaching, Slot will need to weigh Rooney’s suggestions carefully in hopes of reversing the team’s fortunes before the season progresses further.