Rooney Labels Salah “Selfish,” Calls for Dropping Him from Liverpool’s Final Match

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has publicly criticized Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, labeling his recent comments about the club's tactical approach as "selfish" and suggesting he should be dropped from the squad for their final Premier League match of the season against Brentford at Anfield. Salah's remarks followed Liverpool's 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa, a result that cast doubt on their Champions League qualification prospects.

Salah, who is set to depart Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years at the club, stated that Liverpool needs to return to being a "heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear." He added that this identity "cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it," a statement widely interpreted as a direct criticism of incoming manager Arne Slot.

Rooney's Strong Stance

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England international expressed his dismay at Salah's timing and nature of the comments. "I find it sad at the end of what he's done and what he's achieved at Liverpool," Rooney said. "It's not the point for him to come out and aim another dig at Slot." Rooney interpreted Salah's "heavy metal football" comment as a desire for Jurgen Klopp's style, suggesting that Salah, at 33, might no longer be able to cope with that high-intensity approach. "Now I don't think Mo Salah can cope with that type of football anymore. I think his legs have gone to play at that high tempo and high intensity," Rooney added.

A Manager's Authority

Rooney drew a parallel to his own experiences, recalling a fallout with Sir Alex Ferguson that led to him being left out of Ferguson's final game at Old Trafford. He believes Slot should exercise similar authority. "If I was Arne Slot, I'd have him nowhere near the stadium in the last game," Rooney asserted. He suggested Salah had "dropped the grenade" and undermined Slot, putting his future teammates in a difficult position.

Salah's Recent Form and Past Criticisms

Salah, who had announced his decision to leave Anfield in March, reportedly had a strained relationship with Slot, which he confirmed to reporters in December. Despite winning a record four Premier League Golden Boot awards and scoring 29 times in the 2024-25 Premier League season when Liverpool won the title, Salah's performance this season has been less impactful, with only 12 goals in 40 games as the defending champions languish in fifth place.

Key facts

The "Selfish" Accusation

Rooney believes Salah's comments are an attempt to vindicate himself after a "very poor season." "I think Salah's trying to vindicate himself and make himself feel better because he's had a very poor season," Rooney commented. "So I think he's been very selfish in what he's done in the two occasions." He emphasized that publicly disrespecting a manager twice is unacceptable and called for Slot to "pull rank" and exclude Salah. While acknowledging Salah deserves a good send-off for his contributions, Rooney questioned whether his recent actions warrant it.

The Pressure on Slot

Liverpool's disappointing title defence has intensified scrutiny on manager Slot. While Rooney remains "quite split" on whether Slot should be replaced, he noted a perceived lack of pressing by Liverpool, which he believes is frustrating fans. He also hinted at a potential issue within the squad, stating, "some players look like they've downed tools and that's a big problem if you see that or you feel that for the manager." The ongoing situation with Salah only adds to the challenges facing Slot as he prepares to take the helm.

Fuente: BBC Sport Football RSS – https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c9q313pjgr0o?atmedium=RSS&atcampaign=rss