Wayne Rooney urges Arne Slot to drop Mohamed Salah as Liverpool struggle. Rooney says the team needs a bold decision amid poor form

LONDON, Monday – Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has delivered a stern assessment of Liverpool’s current struggles, urging Liverpool manager Arne Slot to consider making what he called a decisive statement by dropping forward Mohamed Salah.

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Rooney made the remarks during his latest podcast episode following Liverpool’s 3–0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Rooney said the team’s decline required what he described as a powerful intervention from Arne Slot, arguing that Salah’s performances have not matched the demands of Liverpool’s system in recent weeks.

He noted that although Salah has scored five goals this season, the forward has failed to provide a goal or assist in several matches, including Saturday’s loss.

Rooney questioned Salah’s defensive contribution, suggesting that the forward’s reduced work rate sends the wrong message to players currently on the bench.

He said that if he were in Slot’s position, he would consider leaving the Egyptian out of the starting lineup to jolt the squad’s mentality.

Rooney also referenced Salah’s historic achievements, including becoming the first player in Premier League history to finish a season with the most goals and assists while winning Player of the Season.

However, he argued that past accolades cannot excuse poor intensity.

The former England captain added that Liverpool’s turbulent run, which has left them 11th in the table with 18 points from 12 matches, may partly reflect the emotional impact of the death of teammate Diogo Jota, acknowledging the deep toll it likely had on the dressing room.

Even with that context, he insisted that it cannot excuse the absence of fight and commitment on the pitch.

Liverpool’s difficult start comes despite a heavy summer investment that included the arrivals of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak for a combined £241 million, following Slot’s title-winning first season after succeeding Jurgen Klopp.

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As pressure grows, Rooney said Liverpool now face a defining period, arguing that leadership demands hard decisions when performance levels fall.