Wayne Rooney Criticizes Mohamed Salah’s Work Ethic Following Liverpool’s Defeat

Wayne Rooney has expressed criticism of Mohamed Salah’s effort on the pitch after Liverpool’s narrow loss to Chelsea. Rooney suggests that captain Virgil van Dijk should have a conversation with the star winger about his defensive contributions.

During the match, Salah, 33, failed to score for the fifth time in seven Premier League games as Liverpool suffered their third defeat in a week, a period many fans are calling the ‘week from hell’. Despite some scoring chances in the second half, Salah missed the target multiple times, including opportunities around Cody Gakpo’s equalizer and Moises Caicedo’s early goal.

Rooney criticized Salah’s defensive work, or lack thereof, especially after Chelsea’s late winner scored in the 96th minute. The goal originated from Salah’s flank, where he did not track Marcos Cucurella, allowing him to assist the goal scorer.

Rooney highlighted that Liverpool’s right side was frequently exposed, with Salah’s positioning contributing to defensive vulnerabilities. He believes that senior players like Van Dijk and Alisson should confront Salah about improving his defensive efforts, as the team needs full commitment from its key players.

Historically, under Jurgen Klopp, Salah was known for his hard work tracking back. However, since the arrival of new tactical approaches, his role has shifted toward focusing more on attack, which paid off last season with a record-equalling 47 goal involvements in the league, earning him individual accolades.

Salah previously explained that he personally suggested to the coach that he could prioritize attack by conserving defensive energy, which he believed helped his offensive output. Rooney now questions whether this change is affecting his overall performance and team dynamics.

Salah’s recent struggles have raised questions about his recent form and attitude, leading Rooney to believe that team leaders should reinforce the importance of defensive effort to him.