Salah must be sacked from Liverpool for disrespecting Slot: Rooney

Wayne Rooney has slammed Mohamed Salah for publicly questioning Liverpool’s direction under Arn Slota, saying the forward should be dropped for the club’s final game of the season after showing “disrespect” to his manager.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former Manchester United FC captain reacted strongly to Salah’s recent comments that Liverpool would like to return to the “heavy metal” football they played under former manager Jurgen Klopp.

Rooney said the remarks were effectively another public attack on Sloto and unfair to a manager preparing for his first full season in charge.

“I think it’s sad at the end of what he’s done and what he’s achieved at Liverpool,” Rooney said. “There’s no point in him coming out and aiming another kick at the Slot. He wants to play heavy metal football, so basically he’s saying he wants Jurgen Klopp football.”

Rooney also doubted whether Salah could still cope with the demands of Klopp’s high-intensity style.

“Now I don’t think Mo Salah can cope with this type of football. I think his legs have started playing at such a high pace and high intensity,” he said.

The former England captain said Salah’s comments undermined Slota as he left Liverpool’s dressing room to deal with the shortage ahead of next season.

“He almost just dropped a grenade and said he didn’t trust and believe in Arne Sloto and he almost threw his teammates who are going to be there next season and let them deal with it as well,” Rooney said.

Salah and Slot had a difficult relationship during the season. Earlier in the campaign, Salah accuses Liverpool of throwing him ‘under the bus’ amid frustration at the lack of regular starts.

Despite Salah’s record 257 goals for Liverpool and his role in the club’s recent success, Rooney believes the striker’s latest comments have distracted from a disappointing season on the pitch.

After scoring 29 league goals during Liverpool’s title-winning campaign last season, Salah has managed 12 goals in 40 games in all competitions this year as the club battle for a top-five finish.

“I think Salah is trying to defend himself and feel better because he had a very bad season,” Rooney said. “So I think he was very selfish in what he did on two occasions.

Rooney also recalled his own feud with former manager Alex Ferguson, saying he was dropped for Ferguson’s last home game after a disagreement. He believes Slot should take the same approach to Liverpool’s last game against Brentford FC.

“If I was Arne Slot, I wouldn’t have had him anywhere near the stadium in the last game,” Rooney said. “That’s your manager. You can’t publicly disrespect him twice the way he does and get away with it.”

Rooney added that while Salah deserves credit for his achievements at Liverpool, the manner of his departure marred what should have been a fitting farewell.

“It’s just a shame to see one of the great icons of the Premier League players leave the Premier League probably in this situation,” Rooney said.

– The end

Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

18 May 2026 15:23 IST