Former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney has called for a major shake up at Liverpool, insisting that manager Arne Slot should consider dropping Mohamed Salah to revive the team’s flagging form.
His comments follow Liverpool’s 3–0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, a match in which the Egyptian once again failed to produce a decisive contribution.
Speaking on his latest podcast, Rooney said that Slot may need to make what he described as a big decision to send a message to the dressing room.
He argued that Salah’s defensive work rate has dwindled this season, and that other players may feel discouraged if one of the team’s most influential figures appears not to be matching their effort levels.
Rooney suggested that the imbalance becomes more pronounced when new signings see an established star struggling without consequences.
Salah, who remains a Liverpool legend and delivered one of the most remarkable statistical campaigns in Premier League history last season, has scored five league goals this term but has not assisted or scored in recent matches.
Concerns have grown internally about Liverpool’s physical intensity and defensive discipline, especially after the recent summer of high-profile arrivals including Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
Despite spending more than 240 million pounds on strengthening the squad, the team sits in 11th place with only 18 points from 12 matches.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk admitted after the Forest loss that responsibility must be shared by all players.
While acknowledging the emotional toll of Diogo Jota’s tragic passing earlier in the season, Rooney stressed that Liverpool cannot use grief as a reason for a decline in fight, pressing or commitment.
Rooney noted that Slot’s difficult spell has reignited comparisons with former manager Jurgen Klopp. He said this mirrors what happened at Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, when new managers found themselves overshadowed by their predecessors.
He urged fans to give Slot the space needed to stabilise the team and rebuild confidence, insisting that Liverpool must stop reliving the Klopp era and instead back the Dutchman to restore momentum.
As pressure mounts and results continue to dip, attention now shifts to how Slot responds to Rooney’s challenge and whether a bold decision involving Salah could spark a turnaround.
