Rooney Advocates for Salah’s Bench Time Amid Liverpool’s Struggles

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has proposed that Liverpool manager Arne Slot consider sidelining Mohamed Salah, following the team’s disappointing performance in the recent 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. Despite Salah’s impressive record of five goals this season, he has not registered a goal or an assist in several matches, prompting Rooney’s remarks.

In his latest podcast episode, Rooney stated, “If I were Slot, I would make a significant decision to impact the rest of the team. Salah is not contributing defensively. For those players who are new signings and find themselves on the bench, seeing Salah not putting in the effort sends a discouraging message.”

Liverpool currently languishes in 11th place in the Premier League table, accumulating 18 points from 12 games. Rooney reflected on the team’s struggles, attributing some of their challenges to the unfortunate situation surrounding teammate Diogo Jota, and acknowledged the emotional toll it may have on the squad. However, he remarked, “There’s no excuse for a lack of fight and tackling.”

Captain Virgil van Dijk emphasized after the Nottingham Forest match that “everyone in the team must take responsibility,” as the team has secured only one win in their last seven league fixtures. Rooney highlighted the pressure on Slot, noting that the shadow of former manager Jurgen Klopp, who led the team to a Premier League title, looms large over the current squad. He remarked, “When results are poor, Klopp’s name inevitably resurfaces, much like the situation with Sir Alex Ferguson when David Moyes took over at Manchester United.”

Rooney concluded by urging Liverpool fans to support Slot, stating, “He is not Jurgen Klopp, but it’s essential for the fans to rally behind him during this challenging period.”

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