Former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney has advised Liverpool manager Arne Slot to take a very strong stance on the current situation with talismanic winger Mohamed Salah, following the Egyptian’s recent media outburst.
Salah accused Liverpool of throwing him under the bus after staying on the bench for a third consecutive Premier League match on Saturday where they drew 3-3 with Leeds United, twice surrendering their lead at Elland Road.
The Egyptian also hinted at a breakdown in his relationship with Slot, admitting he is uncertain about his future and Rooney believes the Dutch manager needs to take control of the situation.
“Arne Slot has to show his authority and pull him in and say ‘you are not travelling with the team, what you said is not acceptable’,” said the former England international on The Wayne Rooney Show.
“Take yourself off to [the Africa Cup of Nations] and let everything calm down. If I was [Slot] there would be no way he would be in the team.
“It needs sorting out quickly either way.”He is absolutely destroying his legacy at Liverpool. It would be sad for him to throw it all away. He’s gone about it all wrong.”
Rooney further argued that the experienced Egyptian forward was out of line for publicly making such comments about the club and his relationship with Slot.
“Time catches up with all of us, and this season he hasn’t looked as his best, at his sharpest,” Rooney added.”You want to see him roll his sleeves up and say ‘ok then, I’ll show you’.
“To have the arrogance to say he doesn’t have to earn his place because he has already earned his place, you need to be at your best every week to try and stay in the team.
“If I was one of his team-mates, I wouldn’t be happy at all with what he said because this is where Liverpool need him most.
“If anything, he has thrown Liverpool under the bus with his words. He’s been absolutely incredible for Liverpool, but this was disrespectful to his team-mates, manager and fans.
“I would imagine he will be very quiet around the training ground and that will bring a negative energy in itself to the new players Arne has bedded in.
“I am sure over the next couple of years he will regret saying what he has.”
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