Former Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has taken aim at Mohamed Salah, accusing the Liverpool forward of showing poor work ethic during the Reds’ dramatic 3–2 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.The 33-year-old winger once again failed to find the net — his fifth blank in seven league matches — as Arne Slot’s men suffered their third straight loss in what many fans are now calling Liverpool’s “week from hell.”Despite Cody Gakpo’s equalizer briefly restoring hope after Moises Caicedo’s stunning opener, Salah couldn’t convert several chances and was also at fault defensively in the dying moments, when Estevao Willian netted Chelsea’s 96th-minute winner.—🗣️ Rooney’s Harsh VerdictSpeaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the ex-England striker didn’t hold back:> “Liverpool have spent big — Isak, Ekitike, Wirtz… I wonder what Salah’s thinking right now. Top players have egos, and Mo’s no different. But in games like that, you have to work for the team.”Rooney believes Salah’s ego has taken a knock since Liverpool’s record-breaking signings of Alexander Isak (£125m) and Florian Wirtz (£116m), who have quickly become fan favorites.He went on:> “When things are going well, everyone looks the other way. But when results turn, you start seeing who’s really putting in the effort. In that Chelsea game, his full-back was being overrun — and Salah just watched.”—⚡ The Weak Right FlankLiverpool’s right side proved to be a constant weakness. Conor Bradley struggled in the first half, while Dominik Szoboszlai filled in after the break but couldn’t close the gaps. The decisive goal even originated from Salah’s wing, as Marc Cucurella burst forward untracked before setting up Estevao’s winner.That lapse, Rooney suggested, is something Virgil van Dijk and the dressing-room leaders must confront:> “Guys like Van Dijk and Alisson need to step in. Someone has to tell Salah he’s got to help defensively. Right now, he looks a little lost.”—🧠 From Klopp’s Discipline to Slot’s FreedomUnder Jurgen Klopp, tracking back was non-negotiable — Salah was often seen sprinting to help Trent Alexander-Arnold. But Slot’s arrival marked a tactical shift. The Egyptian was given freedom to conserve energy for attacking phases — a strategy that worked wonders last season, when he delivered 47 goal involvements and swept both the Golden Boot and Playmaker Award as Liverpool stormed to their 20th league title.Salah himself once admitted that the change was partly his idea:> “I told the manager, if you let me rest defensively, I’ll make up for it in attack — and you’ll see the numbers,” Salah told Sky Sports after their title win over Spurs.That gamble paid off last season — but with Liverpool now struggling, critics like Rooney argue that the balance has tipped too far.—💭 Final WordWhether this tension sparks a reaction from Salah or forces Van Dijk to intervene remains to be seen. But one thing is clear — the once-untouchable Egyptian King is under more pressure than ever at Anfield.
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