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

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

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has advised Liverpool manager Arne Slot to consider benching Mohamed Salah. Following Liverpool’s 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, Salah, who has scored five goals so far this season, did not contribute with either a goal or an assist.

In his latest podcast, Rooney remarked, “If I were Slot, I would make a significant decision that could influence the rest of the team. Salah is not contributing defensively. For players who have been signed and find themselves on the bench, seeing Salah not exerting himself sends a concerning message.”

Liverpool is currently in a challenging phase, sitting 11th in the Premier League table with 18 points from 12 matches. Rooney noted, “They are indeed going through a tough period. The unfortunate incident involving Jota must have an impact, as he is a teammate, but there can be no excuse for a lack of fighting spirit and tackling.”

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 while also securing the Player of the Season award. His remarkable form coincided with Slot’s successful first season in charge, leading Liverpool to victory in the league after taking over from Jurgen Klopp.

Despite a busy summer transfer window that saw the arrivals of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak for a combined fee of £241 million, the team has struggled to find consistency. Rooney emphasized the need for Slot to revive the team’s performance, remarking, “Slot has a significant task ahead of him to restore winning ways. When results are poor, Klopp’s name inevitably resurfaces, much like how Sir Alex Ferguson’s presence loomed over Manchester United during the tenures of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal. Liverpool supporters need to support Slot without constantly comparing him to Klopp.”

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk added that “everyone in the team must take responsibility,” as Slot’s team has only managed one win in their last seven league matches. The pressure is mounting for Slot as he seeks to steer the club back to form.