Rooney Questions Salah’s Work Rate Amid Liverpool’s Struggles

Concerns Over Salah’s Commitment

Wayne Rooney, the legendary former Manchester United striker, has raised doubts about Mohamed Salah’s work ethic during Liverpool’s recent slump in performance. This commentary comes in light of Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, marking their third straight loss across all competitions. The result, coupled with Arsenal’s victory over West Ham, saw the Gunners move ahead of the reigning champions in the league standings.

The Egyptian forward was instrumental last season, finishing as the Premier League’s top scorer while helping Liverpool clinch the title with relative ease. However, his current form has seen him net just one goal from open play in the league this term, prompting Rooney to highlight that a lack of goals from Salah leads to increased scrutiny on his overall game.

Rooney’s Observations

Rooney noted, “We know he doesn’t always return to defend, but during the Chelsea match, his full-back was under significant pressure, and he seemed to be merely observing.” He emphasized that Salah’s failure to contribute defensively is concerning and called on team leaders like Virgil Van Dijk to encourage Salah to be more defensive-minded.

Reflecting on Salah’s performance, Rooney remarked, “He has appeared somewhat lost in recent outings. When a player is scoring and the team is winning, such issues can be overlooked, but in the past week, I would definitely question his commitment.”

Salah’s solitary goals in this season include a penalty against Burnley and a goal in the opening match against Bournemouth, raising concerns among fans and pundits alike.

A Suggested Role Adjustment

As Salah celebrated his 33rd birthday in June, Rooney suggested that adjusting his role from primarily a right-sided forward might rejuvenate his performance. He added, “Considering Salah’s age, perhaps it would be wise for the coaching staff to reconsider his positioning, especially since Chelsea exploited that flank.”

Rooney continued, “Moving Salah inside could maintain his goal-scoring threat while allowing someone else to cover more ground defensively. Great managers can adapt like this, and I’m not advocating for his exclusion from the squad. After all, we witnessed Sir Alex Ferguson shift Cristiano Ronaldo inside for similar reasons to keep that balance and ensure we still had a chance to score.”

Conclusion

Rooney’s insights spark discussions about Salah’s current form and future contributions to Liverpool. His ability to adapt might be crucial as the team aims to overcome these challenging results.