Rooney Advocates for Salah’s Exclusion to Revitalize Liverpool’s Form

omidbasir- Wayne Rooney has urged Arne Slot to consider omitting Mohamed Salah from the starting lineup in an effort to rejuvenate Liverpool’s performance.

Following a disheartening 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the defending champions have plummeted to 11th place in the Premier League table, now trailing leaders Arsenal by 11 points. Salah did not contribute a goal or an assist during the match, marking Liverpool’s sixth loss in their last seven Premier League encounters.

In the wake of Saturday’s defeat, combined with a prior loss to Manchester City, Liverpool has conceded six unanswered goals across the last two league fixtures.

“Salah is not contributing defensively,” Rooney remarked during The Wayne Rooney Show.

“If you are one of the players on the bench watching him not putting in the effort, it sends a poor message. I understand his legendary status at the club, but if you’re on the sidelines and witnessing a teammate who isn’t giving their all, it can be disheartening.”

Rooney continued, “If I were Arne Slot, I would make a significant decision that could influence the team’s dynamics. In times of struggle, it is crucial to maintain a solid and resilient structure. While they are experiencing this rough patch, Slot must prioritize compactness and ensure every player is giving their all. Once the team finds its winning form, Salah could be reintegrated, hopefully with renewed effort. I firmly believe this approach would positively impact the team.”

Rooney’s criticism wasn’t limited to Salah; he also pointed out the underperformance of several senior players who have not met the expected standards.

“Liverpool’s overall performance has been lacking, and it’s not solely about van Dijk and Salah,” Rooney commented.

“Ideally, these players would be leading the team, but others like Mac Allister, who has been with the club for a few years, and Gravenberch, who performed admirably last year, must step up. They need to rally the squad and foster a winning mentality.”

Additionally, Rooney mentioned the impact of Diogo Jota’s recent tragedy as a contributing factor to Liverpool’s decline.

“They are indeed going through a challenging time. One must consider the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Jota and the potential effect on the players. He is a close teammate, and such events inevitably weigh heavily on the squad.”