Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has made a stunning recommendation to new Liverpool boss Arne Slot: drop club icon Mohamed Salah to help reverse the team's alarming slump.
The Reds' disastrous run of form hit a new low at the weekend when they suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield, marking their eighth loss in just eleven matches across all competitions.
Liverpool's Dramatic Collapse
Liverpool's current struggles represent a dramatic fall from grace for last season's champions. The team has lost by a three-goal margin in three of their last five outings, despite a massive summer spending spree of £446 million on new talent including Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
Among the most concerning individual declines is that of Mohamed Salah. After an extraordinary 2024-25 campaign where he contributed to 57 goals in 52 appearances, the Egyptian forward has managed just five goals in 17 games this season.
The 33-year-old has looked largely ineffectual in attack, while opposition teams have increasingly targeted what they perceive as his defensive weaknesses.
Rooney's Radical Solution
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain argued that a bold decision regarding Salah could have a transformative effect on the entire squad.
'If I was Slot, I'd try and make a big decision just so it has an impact on the rest of the team,' Rooney stated. 'Salah is not helping them defensively. If you're one of the players who they've signed and you're on the bench and you've seen him not running - and again he's a club legend and everything he's done for the club - but if you're on the bench, then what message does that send to you?'
Rooney's comments echo tactics already employed by Liverpool's rivals. Chelsea left back Marc Cucurella recently revealed that the Blues specifically targeted Liverpool's right side during their 2-1 victory last month, exploiting Salah's advanced positioning.
Moving Beyond the Klopp Era
Rooney also addressed the broader challenges facing Slot, urging Liverpool supporters to stop comparing him to legendary former manager Jurgen Klopp.
'The big thing is when he has a run of results like this, Klopp's name keeps getting brought up,' Rooney observed, drawing parallels with the post-Ferguson era at Manchester United. 'I think the Liverpool fans just need to move away from that and get behind him.'
The Reds currently sit in 11th position in the Premier League and face a crucial Champions League fixture against PSV at Anfield on Wednesday as they attempt to reverse their fortunes.
