Rooney Sounds Alarm: Why Salah Must Be Benched to Rescue Liverpool’s Season
Wayne Rooney has openly urged Arne Slot to take a bold and potentially controversial step: remove Mohamed Salah from the starting lineup to reignite Liverpool’s fading spark. According to Rooney, the team has slipped far from its usual intensity, and drastic measures may be needed to jolt them back into rhythm.
In recent weeks, Liverpool’s attack has looked unusually sluggish, lacking the sharp movement, direct threat and fluid combination play that historically defined their forward line. Rooney believes that Salah, despite his legendary status at Anfield, has not been performing at the level expected of him. As a result, his presence may be limiting Liverpool’s ability to reset and rediscover their identity under Slot.
Rooney argues that no player — regardless of past achievements — should be guaranteed a starting place if their form dips. By benching Salah, Slot would be sending a clear message that performance comes first, and that the team’s collective success must outweigh individual reputation. This, he suggests, could motivate the entire squad to step up and fight for their places.
He also believes that giving other attackers the chance to start could inject fresh energy into Liverpool’s forward line. Younger or in-form players might bring urgency, unpredictability, and hunger — qualities that seem to be missing from the team’s recent performances. The temporary removal of Salah could therefore serve as both a wake-up call and an opportunity for tactical recalibration.
Ultimately, Rooney insists that such a decision, while risky, could be the spark that pushes Liverpool out of their current slump. Slot now faces the challenge of balancing loyalty to his star player with the broader responsibility of reviving the team’s confidence and results. Whether he chooses to follow Rooney’s advice remains to be seen, but the call for change is growing louder.
