Wayne Rooney Advocates for Change at Liverpool as Team Struggles Under Slot

Mohamed Salah was involved in 47 Premier League goals for Liverpool last season.

In light of Liverpool’s recent struggles, manager Arne Slot faces calls from former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney to reconsider Mohamed Salah’s position in the team. Following a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, Salah, who has scored five goals this season, failed to contribute with either a goal or an assist.

Rooney commented on his podcast, “If I were Slot, I would make a bold decision to influence the rest of the team. Salah has not been contributing defensively. For the players who have recently joined the team and are sitting on the bench, witnessing his lack of effort sends a discouraging message.”

Despite his prolific performance last season, where he became the first player in Premier League history to lead in both goals and assists while winning the Player of the Season award, Salah’s current form is under scrutiny. His impressive statistics coincided with a successful inaugural season for Slot, who led the team to the title after taking over from Jurgen Klopp.

After an active summer transfer window, which included high-profile signings like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak for a total of £241 million, Liverpool finds itself struggling, currently positioned 11th in the league with 18 points from 12 matches.

Rooney remarked, “They are indeed going through a challenging period. We must consider the impact of the unfortunate incident involving Jota, which undoubtedly affects the players as he is their teammate. However, there is no excuse for a lack of fighting spirit and tackling.”

Following the loss, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk emphasized that “everyone in the team must take responsibility.” With Slot’s squad managing only one victory in their last seven league games, the legacy of Klopp is increasingly felt as a shadow over the new manager.

Rooney added, “Slot has a significant task ahead to restore the team’s performance. When results are poor, Klopp’s name inevitably comes up. It is reminiscent of when David Moyes took over at Manchester United; Ferguson’s legacy loomed large at every turn. The Liverpool fans need to move past that and support Slot.”

For more insights from Wayne Rooney, tune into the Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sport YouTube or listen on BBC Sounds.