Wayne Rooney says he would deny Mohamed Salah an emotional Anfield farewell and insist he was “nowhere near the ground” on Sunday after his remarks about Liverpool’s style of play.
Salah took to social media following Friday night’s 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa and made pointed remarks about the Reds’ tactics that were perceived as a dig at boss Arne Slot, claiming Liverpool should go back to “heavy metal football” that became the trademark of his predecessor Jurgen Klopp.
Salah has already announced he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season with his next club currently unknown.
He is set to say farewell to the fans that have idolised him over the past nine years when Liverpool host Brentford on Sunday but Rooney believes he shouldn’t be in the matchday squad.
He told the Wayne Rooney Show on the BBC: “I find it sad at the end of what he’s done and what he’s achieved at Liverpool. 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 any more. I think his legs have gone to play at that high tempo and high intensity.
“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 fallout 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 team-mates who are going to be there next season and let them have to deal with that as well and put them into a position.”
Salah undermines Liverpool boss Slot with outburst
Salah has scored 257 goals for Liverpool, helping them to six major trophies, but has become a headache for Slot this season and, in December, told the media his relationship with the Dutchman had broken down.
He went further over the weekend, questioning the current approach.
Salah wrote on X: “I have witnessed this club go from doubters to believers, and from believers to champions. 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.”
Salah is being selfish – Rooney
Rooney accused Salah, who has scored just seven Premier League goals this season, of being selfish and suggested it would tarnish his Premier League legacy.
He added: “I think Salah’s trying to vindicate himself and make himself feel better because he’s had a very poor season.
“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.
“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 icons of Premier League players leave the Premier League probably in this situation.”
