Wayne Rooney believes Liverpool manager Arne Slot should take a bold step and leave Mohamed Salah out of the starting XI.
The Egyptian forward has five league goals this season but failed to contribute in Liverpool’s 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at Anfield. Rooney argued that Salah’s defensive effort has not been strong enough to justify his automatic selection.
“If I was Slot, I’d make a big decision to spark the team,” Rooney said on his latest podcast. “Salah isn’t helping defensively. When players on the bench see him not working hard, what message does that send?”
Reds struggle after summer spending
Salah produced a record-breaking campaign last season, leading the Premier League in both goals and assists as Liverpool won the title under Slot in his first year after replacing Jurgen Klopp.
But despite major investment in the summer—bringing in Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak for around £241m—Liverpool have struggled to find consistency.
They sit 11th with only 18 points from 12 matches. Rooney believes Diogo Jota’s recent tragedy could be affecting the squad emotionally but insists effort levels must improve.
“There’s no excuse for not fighting and tackling,” Rooney added.
Klopp legacy adds pressure
After the defeat to Forest, captain Virgil van Dijk admitted every player must take responsibility. With just one win from seven league games, comparisons to Klopp are becoming louder.
Rooney said Slot faces the same challenge that managers at Manchester United had after Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.
“He’s constantly compared to Klopp—‘he’s not Jurgen Klopp’—and that doesn’t help,” Rooney said. “Liverpool fans need to move on and get behind their manager.”
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