Wayne Rooney Advocates for Major Change in Liverpool Squad

Mohamed Salah was directly involved in 47 Premier League goals for Liverpool last season, underscoring his significance to the team.

However, former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has urged Liverpool manager Arne Slot to consider dropping Salah following a disappointing 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, where Salah failed to contribute either a goal or an assist.

In his latest podcast episode, Rooney commented, “If I were Slot, I would make a bold decision to impact the rest of the squad. Salah is not contributing defensively. For the players on the bench who have been signed, seeing him not exerting effort sends a poor message.”

Liverpool is currently enduring a challenging phase, sitting 11th in the Premier League table with just 18 points after 12 matches. Rooney noted, “They’re experiencing a tough period, particularly influenced by the unfortunate incident involving Diogo Jota. Such events can affect the morale of the players, as he is one of their teammates. However, there is no excuse for a lack of effort and commitment on the pitch.”

Despite Salah’s remarkable achievements last season, where he became the first player in Premier League history to lead in both goals and assists and win the Player of the Season award, his current form has raised concerns.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk stated after the Nottingham match that “everyone in the team must take responsibility.” With just one win in their last seven league games, the shadow of former manager Jurgen Klopp looms large over Slot, who succeeded Klopp to guide Liverpool.

Rooney expressed his belief in Slot’s challenge: “He has a significant task ahead to restore winning performances. Whenever results falter, Klopp’s name resurfaces in discussions, reminiscent of how Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy affected David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal at Manchester United. The fans need to rally behind Slot rather than comparing him to Klopp.”

For more insights, tune in to the Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sport’s YouTube channel or listen on BBC Sounds.