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Salah's silence sparks legacy fears
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has not found the net since 1 November, and former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney warns the Egyptian is eroding his Anfield legacy with public criticism of manager Arne Slot.
Rooney: "Show authority-drop him"
In his latest podcast episode, Rooney said Slot must exclude Salah from Tuesday's Champions League trip to Inter Milan and next Saturday's home match against Brighton.
"Arne Slot has to show his authority and pull him in and say 'you are not travelling with the team, what you said is not acceptable.' Take yourself off to Afcon and let everything calm down. If I was him there would be no way he would be in the team."
Wayne Rooney
Rooney added that Salah must either reconcile with Slot or leave Liverpool, calling the situation "a clear challenge to Slot's authority."
Salah's frustration laid bare
After Saturday's 3-3 draw at Leeds United, where he was an unused substitute, Salah told reporters, "I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don't have any relationship."
He continued, "It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame."
Legacy at stake
Salah, 33, has scored 250 goals in 420 appearances for Liverpool but has managed only four in 13 Premier League games this season. His 29-goal haul last term helped secure the club's first league title in 30 years, and he signed a new two-year contract in April.
Rooney questioned why Salah chose to air his grievances publicly, saying, "He is absolutely destroying his legacy at Liverpool. It would be sad for him to throw it all away. He's gone about it all wrong."
Team morale under threat
Rooney took particular issue with Salah's comment that "I don't have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it."
"Time catches up with all of us, and this season he hasn't looked at his best, at his sharpest. You want to see him roll his sleeves up and say 'ok then, I'll show you.' To have the arrogance to say he doesn't have to earn his place because he has already earned his place, you need to be at your best every week to try and stay in the team."
Wayne Rooney
Rooney added that Salah's remarks were "disrespectful" to teammates, the manager, and fans, and predicted they would bring "negative energy" to the training ground.
Liverpool's season in freefall
Under Slot, Liverpool have won just seven of their opening 15 league matches and sit ninth in the table, 10 points behind leaders Arsenal. The club face a pivotal week with Inter Milan and Brighton on the horizon.
