Wayne Rooney Advocates for Bold Changes at Liverpool

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

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has urged Liverpool manager Arne Slot to consider dropping Mohamed Salah from the starting lineup. Following Liverpool’s disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, Salah—who has netted five goals this season—failed to contribute any goals or assists.

In his latest podcast episode, Rooney stated, “If I were Slot, I would make a bold decision that could positively influence the rest of the team. Salah is not contributing defensively. If you’re one of the new signings on the bench and witness his lack of effort, what message does that convey?”

The 33-year-old Salah made history last season by becoming the first player in Premier League history to finish with the most goals and assists, also winning the Player of the Season award. His brilliant performance coincided with Slot’s successful debut season as manager, leading Liverpool to the title after succeeding Jurgen Klopp.

However, after a hectic summer transfer window that saw the acquisitions of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak for a total of £241 million, Liverpool has faced difficulties, currently sitting 11th in the league table with 18 points from 12 matches.

“They are certainly going through a rough patch,” Rooney remarked. “You have to consider the impact of Jota’s unfortunate situation. It must affect the players, as he is one of their teammates. Nonetheless, there is no excuse for a lack of fighting spirit and tackling.”

In response to the recent loss, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk emphasized the need for collective accountability, as Slot’s squad has managed just one victory in their last seven league outings, casting a shadow on his tenure.

“Slot has a significant task ahead of him to restore winning performances,” Rooney noted. “When enduring a run of poor results, Klopp’s legacy inevitably comes up. It resembles the situation when Sir Alex Ferguson’s name was frequently mentioned during David Moyes’ and Louis Van Gaal’s tenures at Manchester United. For Slot, the constant comparison to Klopp could hinder his progress. I believe the Liverpool fans need to rally behind him and move away from those comparisons.”

For further insights, tune into the Wayne Rooney Show available on BBC Sport’s YouTube channel, and catch the latest updates on football through BBC Sounds.