Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has criticised Mohamed Salah over the Liverpool forward’s recent comments about the club’s playing style, describing the Egyptian as “selfish” and suggesting he should be left out of Liverpool’s final game of the season against Brentford F.C..
Salah’s remarks came after Liverpool’s 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa F.C., a result that damaged the club’s hopes of securing Champions League qualification.
In a social media post following the defeat, Salah insisted Liverpool must rediscover the aggressive attacking identity that defined much of the club’s recent success.
“That is the football I know how to play and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good. It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it,” Salah wrote.
The comments were widely interpreted as indirect criticism of Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his tactical approach during his first season at Anfield.
Speaking on the Wayne Rooney Show, Rooney questioned both the timing and impact of Salah’s comments, particularly with the forward expected to leave Liverpool at the end of the campaign.
“I find it sad at the end of what he’s done and what he’s achieved at Liverpool. It’s not the point for him to come out and aim another dig at Slot,” Rooney said.
Salah, now 33, is set to end a hugely successful spell at Liverpool after scoring 257 goals and helping the club win six major trophies since arriving from AS Roma in 2017.
However, Rooney suggested the Egyptian forward no longer suits the intense pressing style associated with former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
“He wants to play heavy metal football, so he’s basically saying he wants Jurgen Klopp football,” Rooney added.
“Now I don’t think Mo Salah can cope with that type of football any more. I think his legs have gone to play at that high tempo and high intensity.”
Rooney also claimed he would exclude Salah entirely from Liverpool’s final Premier League fixture if he were in Slot’s position.
“If I was Arne Slot, I’d have him nowhere near the stadium in the last game,” he said.
The former England captain compared the situation to his own fallout with former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson during Ferguson’s final match at Old Trafford.
“I had it with Alex Ferguson. I had a disagreement and fallout and at Alex Ferguson’s last game at Old Trafford, he left me out of the squad for that reason,” Rooney explained.
Rooney also accused Salah of placing unnecessary pressure on both the manager and Liverpool’s squad ahead of next season.
“He’s almost just dropped the grenade and said he doesn’t trust and believe in Arne Slot and almost thrown his team-mates who are going to be there next season and let them have to deal with that as well and put them into a position.”
Liverpool’s final game of the 2025–26 Premier League season is against Brentford as the home match is expected to serve as an emotional Anfield farewell for Mohamed Salah. Arne Slot’s side will likely need a positive result to officially secure Champions League qualification
