Wayne Rooney Advocates for Tactical Changes at Liverpool

Wayne Rooney has suggested that Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, consider omitting Mohamed Salah from the starting lineup in an effort to rejuvenate the team’s performance.

Following a 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the defending champions find themselves languishing in 11th place in the Premier League, now 11 points behind the league leaders, Arsenal.

In this latest match, Salah failed to contribute either a goal or an assist, marking Liverpool’s sixth defeat in their last seven league encounters. The team has now conceded six goals without reply in their last two matches, including a previous loss to Manchester City.

“Salah is not contributing defensively,” Rooney remarked during The Wayne Rooney Show. “If you’re one of the new signings sitting on the bench and you see a teammate not putting in the effort, it sends a discouraging message. I understand his legendary status at the club, but it raises questions if he starts every match without running back to defend.

“If I were Arne Slot, I would make a significant decision to motivate the rest of the team. When results are not going your way, it’s crucial to maintain a compact and resilient team. During this challenging period, Slot must act decisively to foster a more cohesive unit where every player is contributing defensively. Then, once victories are secured, Salah can be reintegrated into the squad, hopefully with renewed commitment. I believe this approach would positively impact the team.”

Rooney did not solely focus on Salah; he also criticized several senior players for their underwhelming performances.

“Liverpool’s issues extend beyond Salah and van Dijk,” he noted. “I would expect them to lead, but players like Mac Allister and Gravenberch, who have been with the team for a while, need to step up and help build a winning mentality again.”

He also referenced the recent death of Diogo Jota as potentially influencing the team’s struggles.

“They are undoubtedly going through a tough time. We must consider the impact of Jota’s tragic situation and how it has affected the players. He was a teammate they saw every day, and such events can have a profound effect on morale.”