Wayne Rooney Suggests Mohamed Salah Should Be Benched Amid Liverpool Struggles

Mohamed Salah contributed to 47 Premier League goals for Liverpool last season.

However, in response to Liverpool’s recent performance, particularly their 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has suggested that manager Arne Slot should consider dropping Salah. Despite scoring five times this season, Salah has failed to provide any goals or assists in recent matches.

In his latest podcast episode, Rooney stated, “If I were Slot, I would make a bold decision that impacts the entire team. Salah is not contributing defensively. If you’re a new signing on the bench and you see him not putting in the effort, what message does that convey?”

Slot acknowledged the team’s current struggles, describing it as a “very bad spell.” Last season, Salah made history by being the first player in Premier League history to finish with the most goals and assists while also winning the player of the season award. This impressive performance coincided with Slot’s successful debut season, during which he led Liverpool to the title after taking over from Jurgen Klopp.

After a busy transfer window, which saw the arrivals of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak for a total of £241 million, Liverpool currently finds themselves in 11th place in the league with 18 points from 12 matches. Rooney remarked, “They are certainly going through a tough time. You have to consider the impact of what has happened to Jota on the squad; that must affect the team morale. However, there is no excuse for a lack of effort and tackling.”

Captain Virgil van Dijk emphasized the need for collective accountability following the loss, while Slot’s team has managed only one win in their last seven league matches. The shadow of Klopp’s tenure is increasingly evident, as Rooney noted, “Slot faces a significant challenge in restoring the team’s performance. When results falter, Klopp’s name is frequently mentioned. It’s reminiscent of how Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy lingered when David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal took over at Manchester United. With Slot, people keep saying, ‘He’s not Jurgen Klopp, he doesn’t measure up to Klopp.’ Fans need to move past that and support him.”

For further insights, tune into the Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sport’s YouTube channel or listen via BBC Sounds.