“Slot should drop Salah”- Wayne Rooney calls out Egyptian star

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has suggested that Liverpool manager Arne Slot should consider dropping Mohamed Salah, following the Reds’ 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Salah, who has scored five goals this season, failed to register a goal or assist in the match, continuing a frustrating run of form.

Rooney’s Criticism

Speaking on his podcast, Rooney argued that Slot needs to make a bold decision to jolt the squad:

“If I were Slot, I’d try and make a big decision just so it has an impact on the rest of the team. Salah is not helping them defensively. If you’re one of the players who they’ve signed and you’re on the bench and you’ve seen him not running – and again he’s a club legend and everything he’s done for the club – but if you’re on the bench, then what message does that send to you?”

Salah’s Legacy vs Current Form

• Last season, Salah became the first player in Premier League history to finish with the most goals and assists while winning Player of the Season.


• His brilliance coincided with Slot’s debut campaign, which ended in Liverpool lifting the title.


• This season, however, Liverpool have struggled despite a £241m summer outlay on Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

• League position: 11th


• Points: 18 from 12 matches


• Form: Just one win in their last seven league games

Klopp’s Shadow

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk admitted after the Forest defeat that “everyone in the team has to take responsibility.” Yet, with Slot under pressure, comparisons to Jurgen Klopp’s nine-year reign continue to surface.

Rooney drew parallels with Manchester United’s post-Ferguson era:

“It’s a bit like the presence with Sir Alex Ferguson. When David Moyes came in and Van Gaal, Fergie’s name would always get brought up. With Slot, Klopp keeps getting brought up. ‘He’s not Jurgen Klopp, he’s not as good as Jurgen Klopp.’ But I think the Liverpool fans just need to move away from that and get behind him.”