Rooney urges Slot to drop Salah from Anfield finale
Wayne Rooney has called for Mohamed Salah’s exclusion from Liverpool’s final Premier League match, arguing the forward’s public criticism of Arne Slot undermines managerial authority.
Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has publicly urged Liverpool manager Arne Slot to exclude Mohamed Salah from the squad for the club’s final Premier League fixture against Brentford at Anfield. Rooney described the Egyptian forward as "selfish" following Salah’s social media post advocating for a return to a "heavy metal attacking team" identity, which Rooney interpreted as a direct criticism of Slot’s tactical methods and an attempt to vindicate himself after a statistically poorer season.
Rooney argued that Salah’s public comments undermined the manager and suggested the 33-year-old’s physical capabilities are no longer suited to the high-intensity style he advocates. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, Rooney stated that if he were in Slot’s position, he would exclude Salah from the squad for the final game, citing a precedent where Alex Ferguson left Rooney out of the squad for his final game at Old Trafford following a disagreement.
The incident occurs against the backdrop of Salah’s announced departure from Liverpool after nine years, the team’s current fifth-place standing, and recent reports of a strained relationship between the player and manager. Salah, who announced his departure in March, has scored 257 goals for Liverpool over nine years, winning six major trophies and four Premier League Golden Boot awards. However, he has scored 12 times in 40 games this season compared to 29 in the previous title-winning campaign.
Rooney claimed Salah's comments were an attempt to "vindicate himself" after a "very poor season," noting the significant drop in goal output. He expressed mixed feelings regarding Slot's future, suggesting the manager deserves more time despite the team's fifth-place standing, but noted that some players appear to have "downed tools." Liverpool won the Premier League title in Slot's first season (2024-25) but are currently languishing in fifth place.
The team recently suffered a 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa, which left their Champions League qualification in doubt. Salah previously told reporters in December that his relationship with Slot had broken down. Jurgen Klopp, the previous manager, was known for a high-intensity "heavy metal" style of play, which Salah referenced in his call for a tactical return.
