Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah is under fire — not from fans this time, but from Wayne Rooney, who has sharply criticized the Egyptian forward following his explosive comments after the Leeds draw.
Rooney believes Salah is acting out of arrogance and urged manager Arne Slot to exclude him from the upcoming matches against Inter Milan and Brighton.
The controversy erupted after Salah, left on the bench for the third consecutive game, told reporters he felt “thrown under the bus” and that his relationship with Slot has completely broken down. The 33-year-old, who signed a £400,000-per-week contract earlier this year, even hinted that Saturday’s home clash with Brighton could mark a farewell to Liverpool fans before the Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking on his BBC podcast, Rooney didn’t hold back:
> “Slot needs to assert his authority. He should pull Salah aside and say, ‘You’re not traveling with the team, what you said is unacceptable.’ Let him go to AFCON and let tensions settle. If it were me, he wouldn’t be in the squad right now.”
Rooney added that Salah’s recent behaviour risks tarnishing the remarkable legacy he has built at Anfield:
> “He’s been phenomenal for Liverpool, but this was disrespectful to his teammates, manager, and fans. He’s undermined the team when they needed him most. Time catches up with everyone, and this season he hasn’t looked sharp. He needs to show commitment, not assume he automatically deserves a place in the lineup.”
Salah has only featured for 45 minutes across the last three Premier League games, against West Ham, Sunderland, and Leeds, a far cry from his previous season’s form. Despite scoring four goals this term, he trails his top-scoring teammate Hugo Ekitike and is far off the 13-goal tally he had at this stage last season.
The forward defended his stance, insisting he is not a problem within the squad:
> “Someone wants me to take all the blame. I’ve done so much for this club, and it feels like promises made over the summer haven’t been kept. I’m disappointed — I’ve been benched, and it’s the first time in my career this has happened three times in a row.”
He continued:
> “I used to have a good relationship with Slot, now I don’t. I’ve told my family I’ll be at the Brighton game to enjoy it and say goodbye to the fans before AFCON. I’m not fighting for my spot every day because I’ve earned it. I’m not bigger than the club, but I’ve earned my place.”
The situation leaves Liverpool at a crossroads, with tension between one of their star players and their manager threatening to overshadow the team’s results.
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