Wayne Rooney has questioned Mohamed Salah’s commitment and defensive work rate following Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night.
The former England captain believes that Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk and the team’s senior players need to speak with the Egyptian forward after what he described as a worrying lack of effort without the ball.
Salah, 33, endured another difficult evening as Liverpool suffered their third consecutive defeat in what supporters have already dubbed the “week from hell.”
The forward, who has scored just twice in his last seven league appearances, failed to convert several chances against Chelsea, including two in the second half either side of Cody Gakpo’s equaliser.
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While Salah’s recent struggles in front of goal have been noticeable, it was his lack of defensive contribution that drew particular criticism from Rooney.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the Manchester United legend suggested that Salah’s attitude may have shifted following the club’s record-breaking signings of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.
“With the players coming in, Isak, [Hugo] Ekitike, and Wirtz, the money they have spent, what does Salah think now?” Rooney said.
Wayne Rooney has questioned Mohamed Salah’s commitment and defensive work rate following Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night
|GETTY/REUTERS
“Top players have an ego, and Mo Salah has been one of the best players in the league for a long time.
“I think the last week has shown that when it’s going well, when you’re scoring goals and winning games, it’s great and the team will put up with that.
“But over the last week, I’d question his work ethic. I know he doesn’t always get back and defend as much, but in the Chelsea game, his full-back is getting torn apart, and he is watching.”
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Mohamed Salah has scored just two Premier League goals for Liverpool this season
|REUTERS
Liverpool’s right-hand side was repeatedly exposed throughout the contest, first with Conor Bradley at right-back and later with Dominik Szoboszlai filling in.
The decisive moment came in stoppage time when Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella broke free down Salah’s flank before squaring for Estevão Willian to score the 96th-minute winner.
Salah failed to track Cucurella’s run, and Rooney pointed to that sequence as evidence of his concern.
“Players like Van Dijk and Alisson, who I know wasn’t playing, but the leaders in the dressing room should be telling him he needs to help,” Rooney continued.
“For me, that was a worry. He has looked a little bit lost this past week, in my opinion.”
During Jurgen Klopp’s reign, such lapses in discipline were rare.
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Virgil van Dijk has been told to have a word with Mohamed Salah following Liverpool's defeat to Chelsea
|REUTERS
Salah was often praised for his relentless work rate and for helping out his full-back defensively.
Under Arne Slot, however, his role has been adjusted. The Dutchman has given Salah greater attacking freedom, allowing him to conserve energy in defensive phases to maximise his threat in the final third.
That tactical approach worked last season, when the Egypt international recorded 47 Premier League goal involvements, equalling the all-time record and collecting both the Golden Boot and Playmaker Award as Liverpool claimed their 20th league title.
Speaking after that triumph, Salah admitted the idea to limit his defensive duties was partly his own.
“I told him, ‘As long as you rest me defensively, I will provide offensively,’” Salah revealed to Sky Sports.
“Try to rest me as much as I can, then I will show you the numbers. He’s the manager, of course, but he listens a lot, so I spoke to him and he bought the idea. You can see the numbers.”