Ask Onix
Rooney calls for Salah to be benched as Liverpool struggles deepen
Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has suggested Liverpool manager Arne Slot should drop Mohamed Salah to send a message to the squad, following the Reds' dismal 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The Egyptian forward, who contributed to 47 Premier League goals last season, has managed just five goals and no assists so far this campaign.
"If I was Slot, I'd try and make a big decision just so it has an impact on the rest of the team," Rooney said in his latest podcast. "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-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?"
Liverpool's sharp decline under Slot
Liverpool currently sit 11th in the Premier League table with 18 points from 12 games, recording just one win in their last seven matches. The slump follows a summer spending spree that saw the arrivals of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak for a combined £241 million.
Last season, Salah became the first player in Premier League history to lead the league in both goals and assists while also winning Player of the Season. His standout performances helped Slot secure the title in his debut campaign after replacing Jurgen Klopp, who left after nine years at Anfield.
Rooney draws parallels with Klopp's shadow
Rooney, a five-time Premier League winner, noted the psychological toll of Liverpool's poor form, including the emotional impact of Diogo Jota's injury. "You've probably got to look at the effect of what sadly happened to Jota. What effect does that have on the players because that's his team-mates? That surely has to have an effect," he said.
However, he criticized the team's lack of fight: "But then there's no excuse for not fighting and not tackling."
Rooney also compared Slot's situation to the challenges faced by David Moyes and Louis van Gaal at Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson's departure. "With Slot, Klopp keeps getting brought up. 'He's not Jurgen Klopp, he's not as good as Jurgen Klopp,'" Rooney said. "But I think the Liverpool fans just need to move away from that and get behind him."
Van Dijk: 'Everyone must take responsibility'
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged the team's collective failure after Saturday's loss. "Everyone in the team has to take responsibility," he said, as pressure mounts on Slot to reverse the club's fortunes.
"It's my responsibility," Slot admitted post-match, describing Liverpool's form as a "very bad spell."
What's next for Liverpool?
Slot faces a critical period to steady the ship, with comparisons to Klopp's legacy complicating his task. Rooney emphasized the need for unity: "Slot's got a big job to get them back playing and winning."
