Rooney's Stark Assessment: Salah's Physical Decline Marks End of Peak Era
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has delivered a brutally honest and stark assessment of Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah's current season, suggesting that the Egyptian superstar's peak performance years are conclusively over. Rooney, a former England captain and Premier League icon, pointed to a noticeable decline in Salah's physical capabilities as the primary evidence for his conclusion.
A Record-Breaking Season Followed by Sharp Dip in Form
Salah, who stands as Liverpool's third highest all-time goalscorer, enjoyed a phenomenal and record-breaking 2024/25 campaign. However, the current term has witnessed a significant and worrying dip in his form and output. Rooney specifically highlighted observations from Salah's performances during the African Cup of Nations, where he noted a reduction in the player's trademark explosive pace and intelligent movement off the ball.
"His legs have gone a little bit," Rooney remarked bluntly, encapsulating his view that the physical attributes which once made Salah one of the world's most feared attackers are now diminishing.
Bench Role and Goal Drought Underline Struggles
The statistics this season starkly support Rooney's analysis. Salah has managed to score only six goals across all competitions for Liverpool, a figure that represents a dramatic fall from his usual prolific standards. Furthermore, manager Arne Slot has demonstrated a loss of faith by benching the forward for four consecutive Premier League matches, a rare occurrence for a player of Salah's stature at Anfield.
This period on the sidelines followed a reported outburst from Salah against Slot earlier in the campaign, adding to the narrative of a strained relationship and a player struggling to adapt. Despite these tensions and his reduced role, Salah has remained at the club beyond the recent transfer window.
A Glimmer of Hope Amidst the Gloom
In a small sign of a potential resurgence, Salah recently ended a concerning goal drought that lasted over two months by finding the net. This solitary strike, however, has done little to quell the growing debate about his long-term effectiveness and future at the highest level of the game.
Rooney's comments have ignited fresh discussion among pundits and fans alike, forcing a re-evaluation of whether Liverpool's attack can continue to rely so heavily on a player who, according to the United legend, is visibly past his physical prime. The coming months will be crucial in determining if Salah can defy this assessment or if Rooney's prognosis proves accurate.
