Arjun Menon
Liverpool’s turbulent start to the season took another dramatic twist after Mohamed Salah’s furious reaction to being left out of the squad drew heavy criticism from former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. Speaking on his podcast, Rooney claimed the Egyptian forward is “destroying his legacy” at Anfield with his behaviour both publicly and inside the dressing room.
Salah’s Frustration Boils Over
Salah has been benched for Liverpool’s last three matches, and tensions erupted following the 3–3 Premier League draw with Leeds United. The 32-year-old accused both Liverpool and head coach Arne Slot of making him a “scapegoat” for the club’s slow start to the campaign.
Despite signing a new two-year extension in April, Salah’s production has dropped sharply this season – just five goals in 19 appearances. That decline stands in stark contrast to the extraordinary heights of his eight-year spell at Liverpool, where he delivered 250 goals in all competitions and lifted two Premier League titles.
Rooney: “He’s Going About It All Wrong”
Rooney did not hold back in his assessment:
“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.”
The former England captain stressed that Slot must now take firm 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.’ Take yourself off to AFCON and let everything calm down. If I was him, there’s no way he’d be in the team.”
Have Salah’s Comments Crossed the Line?
Salah reportedly felt he had been “thrown under the bus” as Liverpool struggled to replicate last season’s title-challenging form. They now sit ninth in the Premier League table, already 10 points behind leaders Arsenal after just 15 matches – a worrying deficit for a team with their ambitions.
Rooney, however, believes Salah’s reaction has backfired:
“If anything, he has thrown Liverpool under the bus with his words. I am sure over the next couple of years he will regret saying what he has.”
Where Do Liverpool and Salah Go From Here?
What was once one of the Premier League’s most harmonious player club relationships suddenly feels fragile. With AFCON approaching and Liverpool battling inconsistency, Slot must now navigate not only the tactical issues but also the emotional fallout surrounding his biggest star.
For a player who has defined an era at Anfield, the next few weeks may determine whether Salah’s story ends as a club legend – or as a superstar who walked away during a storm.
Read also: Michael Owen Sends Strong Message After Mo Salah’s Explosive Outburst Following Leeds vs Liverpool