Rooney Rips Into Salah’s Form, Says Liverpool Must Consider Benching the Star

LIVERPOOL: Mohamed Salah’s public statement that his relationship with Liverpool Head Coach Arne Slot has “broken down” has drawn furious criticism from former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney, who claims the Egyptian forward is “absolutely destroying his legacy” at Anfield.

Salah, 33, made the shocking comments after being left as an unused substitute during Liverpool’s 3-3 draw at Leeds United on Saturday, his third consecutive match without a start. The star forward told reporters at Elland Road: “It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling.”

On his latest podcast episode, Rooney pulled no punches, arguing that Slot must assert his authority immediately by excluding the Egypt international from the squad for upcoming fixtures, including Tuesday’s Champions League game at Inter Milan and the following 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’,” Rooney stated. “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.”

The five-time Premier League winner questioned the motivation behind Salah’s public outburst, especially after the player signed a new two-year contract in April.

“It would be sad for him to throw it all away. He’s gone about it all wrong,” Rooney added, emphasizing that the situation “needs to be sorted out quickly either way.”

Salah, who signed for Liverpool in 2017, boasts an impressive record of 250 goals in 420 appearances and played a crucial role in the club’s recent Premier League title win. However, his recent sideline comments have shifted the focus from his achievements to an internal conflict that now demands immediate resolution from the new head coach.