"Salah doesn't track back defensively," Rooney stated on The Wayne Rooney Show on 24/11. "I understand he's a club legend. But if you're a player on the bench, seeing him not track back, how does that make you feel? What's your reaction when a teammate doesn't defend but still starts every game?"
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Salah looks dejected during the loss to Nottingham Forest at Anfield, Liverpool, England, on 22/11. Photo: Reuters |
Following their 0-3 home defeat to Nottingham Forest in round 12 last weekend, the champions dropped to 11th place, 11 points behind Arsenal. Salah failed to score or assist in that match, marking Liverpool's six loss in their last seven Premier League games. Slot's squad also conceded six goals in their last two league fixtures.
"If I were Arne Slot, I would make a significant decision to influence the rest of the squad," Rooney added. "When you've gone too long without a win, you need to play compactly and be harder to beat. I believe at this stage, Slot must ensure the team plays robustly, is difficult to penetrate, and every player tracks back. Once they start winning, you can reintroduce Salah into the starting lineup, hoping he'll contribute more defensively. I think that would create a positive impact on the club."
Salah has managed only four goals and two assists across 12 rounds. The Egyptian forward's dip in form has made Liverpool the 4th champion to suffer six or more losses in the opening 12 rounds. Previous teams include Blackburn (1995-1996), Chelsea (2015-2016), and Leicester (2016-2017).
Beyond Salah, Rooney also singled out several veteran players for underperforming. "They're not playing well at all; it's not just Van Dijk or Salah," Rooney commented. "These are the team's leaders. Players who have been here for a few years, like Mac Allister or Gravenberch, who performed well last season, need to unite, step up as leaders, and forge a team that knows how to win again."
On 26/11, Liverpool will host PSV in the 5th round of the Champions League. Four days later, they will travel to face West Ham in round 13 of the Premier League.
Vy Anh
The original Vietnamese content states, "Rooney cung cho rang viec Diogo Jota qua doi dot ngot trong mua he co the da anh huong den phong do cua Liverpool" (Rooney also suggested that Diogo Jota's sudden death during the summer might have affected Liverpool's form). This is a factual error. Diogo Jota is a current Liverpool player and is alive. Translating this directly would propagate misinformation.
