Mohamed Salah spoke out once again in the wake of Liverpool's 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa
Wayne Rooney.
Wayne Rooney.(Image: BBC Football/YouTube)
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Wayne Rooney has slammed Mohamed Salah for his conduct towards Liverpool head coach Arne Slot. The former Everton and Manchester United striker has claimed the Dutchman shouldn't "let him near the stadium" for their clash against Brentford.
Salah is in line to play his final game for Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday when the Bees visit. Away from the farewells for Andy Robertson and the Egyptian, the Reds need to win to qualify for the Champions League after their recent downturn in form, compounded by a dismal defeat at Aston Villa, has left them fighting until the final day to secure qualification.
Friday's disappointment at Villa Park meant that they secured their place in the pot for next season. As for Liverpool, the pressure increased on Slot after a tepid display, but the heat intensified following Salah's social media activity.
However, Rooney has criticised Salah for aiming 'another dig' at the Premier League-winning tactician. He said: "I find it sad after what he's done for Liverpool, what he's achieved at Liverpool.
"I've been open this season on my thoughts on Salah and Van Dijk, they have been two of the best in world football in recent years but for Salah to aim another dig at Arne Slot, whether he's there next season or not, is not the point. To aim another dig at him, I think it's really disappointing.
"I've seen his teammates have liked it and sometimes your teammates like your post without knowing what it is, I've seen it happen before.
"For him to have another attack, he's talking that he wants to play heavy metal football so he's saying Jurgen Klopp football, now, I don't think Mo Salah can cope with that sort of football, I think his legs have gone, not fully, but to play at a high tempo is difficult for him.
"To aim another dig after he announced he was leaving, which I didn't agree with, so I think it's just sad. If I was Arne Slot, I'd have him nowhere near the stadium if I was him."
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He added: "I had it with Alex Ferguson, I had a disagreement and fallout, at his last game at Old Trafford he left me out of the squad. I thought he was wrong, he probably thinks he was right but at the end of the day, he was the manager and Arne Slot is the manager. It's almost like he's dropped a grenade and said he doesn't trust or believe in Arne Slot.
"The stats don't lie, I called it out earlier in the season and I'll go onto Van Dijk as well. Earlier in the season, he come over with a smirk after the Real Madrid game as if I was wrong for what I was saying, I wasn't wrong. I feel like I've been backed up in that, I think Liverpool have conceded more goals than they ever have in the Premier League.
"As a player, you need to look at yourself and I don't think he's accepted that he wasn't the player he once was and he's looking elsewhere, to blame other people, it's not nice because he's been one of the best players and will go down in Premier League history."
Salah's social media activity came during the inquest into a 12th Premier League defeat for Liverpool.
The Egyptian, who was a late substitute in the contest, stoked the flames surrounding under-fire head coach Arne Slot after another emphatic statement.
It follows on from Salah's incendiary comments in December when he made his way through the mixed zone at Elland Road, following a third unused substitute appearance where he took direct aim at Slot.
The 33-year-old felt that he had been thrown under the bus by the tactician and that their relationship was broken.
Salah has since announced he is leaving the club halfway through a lucrative two-year contract. In his latest statement, the forward made reference to Jurgen Klopp's heavy-metal football and appeared to aim a fresh dig at the manager.
He said: "I have witnessed this club go from doubters to believers, and from believers to champions," the forward wrote on social media.
"It took hard work and I always did everything I could to help the club get there. Nothing makes me prouder than that.
“Us crumbling to yet another defeat this season was very painful and not what our fans deserve. I want to see Liverpool go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear and back to being a team that wins trophies.
"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.
"Winning some games here and there is not what Liverpool should be about. All teams win games.
"Liverpool will always be a club that means a great deal to me and to my family. I want to see it succeed for long after I have moved on.
"As I’ve always said, qualifying to next season’s Champions League is the bare minimum and I will do everything I can to make that happen."
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