Wayne Rooney Urges Arne Slot to Drop Mohamed Salah

‎Liverpool’s season took another hit after Wayne Rooney called on Arne Slot to drop Mohamed Salah as the club’s poor Premier League run intensified. The latest 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest represented Liverpool’s sixth loss in seven league matches, leaving the defending champions in the bottom half of the table and prompting renewed scrutiny of Slot’s position.

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‎Wayne Rooney urges Arne Slot to drop Mohamed Salah after Liverpool’s heavy defeat to Nottingham Forest deepens the club’s Premier League struggles.

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‎Liverpool suffered another setback when domestic football resumed following the international break. Nottingham Forest struck three unanswered goals, pushing Liverpool’s goals-conceded tally to 20 in their opening 12 league games of the 2025-26 campaign. Slot maintained after the match that the solution remained within reach, though the team’s form has led to widespread concern.

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‎Rooney outlined his belief that dropping Salah could provide the jolt Liverpool need. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, he said a major decision might shift the mentality within the squad. Rooney raised concerns about Salah’s defensive contribution and suggested that continued starts for the forward could send the wrong message to new signings waiting for opportunities.

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‎Rooney confirmed that, in his view, Slot should consider leaving Salah out of the starting lineup. He explained that a more compact and hard-working setup may help Liverpool regain structure before reintroducing Salah once performances stabilize.

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‎Other former players have also questioned Salah’s place in the starting eleven. Jamie Carragher and Don Hutchison both voiced similar views. Liverpool legend John Barnes offered a contrasting perspective, stating that Salah remains part of the club’s best eleven. Barnes highlighted the shift in Liverpool’s playing style, noting the increased role of dribblers such as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, and Alexander Isak. He said the team is adjusting to a slower build-up that naturally reduces Salah’s one-on-one opportunities.

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‎Barnes added that the adaptation phase has created challenges but maintained that Salah’s age is not the driving factor. He described the current period as one of tactical evolution rather than individual decline.

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‎Liverpool will soon need to navigate a stretch without Salah as he prepares to join Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations in December. The forward may miss key Premier League fixtures, including matches against Tottenham, Wolves, Leeds, Fulham, Arsenal, and Burnley, along with Liverpool’s FA Cup third-round tie. The tournament begins on December 21 and concludes on January 18.

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‎Liverpool now turn their attention to the Champions League, where they face PSV at Anfield on Tuesday. PSV arrive unbeaten in 11 matches and currently lead the Eredivisie. The sides met in last season’s competition, with PSV edging a 3-2 victory in Eindhoven. Another positive result for the Dutch club would intensify pressure on Slot as Liverpool seek to halt their slide.