Rooney Calls Salah ‘Selfish’, Says Liverpool Should Drop Forward After Slot Criticism

Former England captain Wayne Rooney has accused Mohamed Salah of being “selfish” and urged Liverpool F.C. to leave the forward out of their final game of the season following his public comments about manager Arne Slot.

Salah sparked debate after Liverpool’s 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa F.C., insisting the club must return to the “heavy metal” football associated with former boss Jürgen Klopp.

“That is the football I know how to play, and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good,” Salah said.

“It cannot be negotiable, and everyone who joins this club should adapt to it.”

The remarks were widely viewed as criticism of Slot’s tactical approach. Rooney believes the Egyptian went too far.

“I find it sad at the end of what he’s done and what he’s achieved at Liverpool,” Rooney said on Monday via BBC.

“It’s not the point for him to come out and aim another dig at Slot.”

The former England international also questioned whether Salah can still handle the high-intensity style he wants restored at Anfield.

“He wants to play heavy metal football, so he’s basically saying he wants Jurgen Klopp football,” Rooney said

“Now I don’t think Mo Salah can cope with that type of football anymore. I think his legs have gone to play at that high tempo and high intensity.”

The former Manchester United F.C. captain said he would drop Salah for the farewell clash with Brentford F.C. if he were in charge.

“If I were Arne Slot, I’d have him nowhere near the stadium in the last game.

“He’s almost just dropped the grenade and said he doesn’t trust and believe in Arne Slot,” he said.

Rooney compared the situation with his own fallout with legendary manager Alex Ferguson.

“I had it with Alex Ferguson. I had a disagreement and fallout and at Alex Ferguson’s last game at Old Trafford, he left me out of the squad for that reason,” he explained.

Salah will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after scoring 257 goals and winning six major trophies, despite helping the club secure the Premier League title in Slot’s first campaign. Rooney believes the latest controversy has tarnished what should have been a celebratory farewell.

He added, “You can’t publicly disrespect him twice the way he has and get away with it.

“Of course, he deserves a good send-off, but does he deserve it just for this? It’s a shame to see one of the great icons of Premier League players leave the Premier League probably in this situation.”