Former England captain Wayne Rooney has criticised Mohamed Salah, describing the Liverpool forward as “selfish” and suggesting he should be left out of the club’s final game of the season following his public remarks about manager Arne Slot.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Salah sparked discussion after Liverpool’s 4-2 loss to Aston Villa, where he insisted the club should return to the “heavy metal” style of football associated with former manager Jürgen Klopp. He argued that this identity should remain non-negotiable and that every new player must adapt to it.

The comments were widely interpreted as a subtle critique of Slot’s tactical approach, a view Rooney strongly rejected.

Rooney Questions Timing And Intent

Rooney said it was disappointing to hear Salah make such comments at this stage of his Liverpool career, arguing that it undermined the manager.

He added that Salah had gone beyond acceptable limits by publicly questioning Slot’s methods and suggested the remarks could damage unity within the squad.

“Drop Him For The Final Game” — Rooney

Rooney went further, stating that if he were in charge, Salah would not feature in Liverpool’s final match of the season against Brentford. He claimed the forward’s comments effectively questioned trust in the manager and disrupted the team environment.

He also suggested that Salah may no longer be suited to the high-intensity style he was advocating, arguing that such a system requires physical demands that may no longer match his current attributes.

Comparison To Ferguson Fallout

Rooney drew parallels with his own past disagreement with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, recalling how he was left out of a match following their fallout.

He used the example to explain why managers sometimes take disciplinary decisions, even in high-profile situations.

Mixed Legacy As Exit Approaches

Salah is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season after scoring 257 goals and winning six major trophies, including a Premier League title in Slot’s first campaign.

Rooney, however, said the recent controversy risks overshadowing what should have been a celebratory farewell for one of the Premier League’s greatest forwards, arguing that respect for the manager should have been maintained until the end of the season.