Mohamed Salah has piled the pressure on Arne Slot with his latest comments on Liverpool's poor season, and Wayne Rooney has called for the Dutchman to axe the winger ahead of his final game
10:28, 18 May 2026
Wayne Rooney reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final First Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Bayern München at Parc des Princes on April 28, 2026 in Paris, France
Wayne Rooney has called for Arne Slot to drop Mohamed Salah for Liverpool's final game of the season(Image: Getty Images)
Wayne Rooney has called for Mohamed Salah to be dropped for Liverpool’s final game of the season against Brentford following his latest comments.
Salah has piled even more pressure on Arne Slot after taking to social media on Saturday to express his frustration at the Reds’ current plight. Liverpool has still not secured Champions League qualification after falling to a 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa on Friday, which could set up a nervy final day at Anfield.
Sunday’s game against Brentford is set to be Salah’s final game as a Liverpool player, with the winger having already reached an agreement with the club for the final year of his contract to be waived.
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Rooney though thinks he shouldn’t even be included in Slot’s squad after his outburst at the weekend. Salah said Liverpool needs to return to being a “heavy metal attacking team,” seen by many as a dig at the Reds’ current playing style under Slot, which has come in for criticism this season.
"I find it sad at the end of what he's done and what he's achieved at Liverpool,” Rooney told BBC Sport. “It's not the point for him to come out and aim another dig at Slot.
"He wants to play heavy metal football, so he's basically saying he wants Jurgen Klopp football. Now I don't think Mo Salah can cope with that type of football anymore. I think his legs have gone to play at that high tempo and high intensity.
Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot (L) and Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah (C) look on during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on May 15, 2026
More pressure has been piled on Arne Slot after Mohamed Salah's comments(Image: Getty Images)
"If I was Arne Slot, I'd have him nowhere near the stadium in the last game. I had it with Alex Ferguson. I had a disagreement and fall out and at Alex Ferguson's last game at Old Trafford, he left me out of the squad for that reason.
"He's almost just dropped the grenade and said he doesn't trust and believe in Arne Slot and almost thrown his teammates who are going to be there next season and let them have to deal with that as well and put them into a position."
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Salah’s latest comments come after his extraordinary outburst back in December, in which he claimed, among other things, that his relationship with Slot had broken down, having been dropped to the bench for consecutive games.
The 33-year-old’s numbers have dipped significantly this season, having scored 12 goals and recorded nine assists in 40 appearances, and Rooney believes he might be trying to take the attention away from his dip in form.
"I think Salah's trying to vindicate himself and make himself feel better because he's had a very poor season," said Rooney.
"So I think he's been very selfish in what he's done in the two occasions. It's a shame and fans will be on his side, but I think when you look deeper into it and having been in a dressing room in a similar situation to that as well, Mo Salah knows exactly what he's doing.
"That's your manager. You can't publicly disrespect him twice the way he has and get away with it. And that's where if I was Arne Slot, I'd have to pull rank and just say, listen, you're not coming anywhere near the place on Saturday, whether you like it or not. I really doubt he will do it, but I think he should.
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"Of course he deserves a good send off but does he deserve it just for this? It's the second time he's done it. It's just a shame to see one of the great icon of Premier League players leave the Premier League probably in this situation."