Wayne Rooney pinpoints what Liverpool is missing with Darwin Nunez transfer claim
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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesWayne RooneyLiverpool has struggled for consistency this season and Wayne Rooney says Arne Slot's team lacks the required aggression and energy that it showed in his first campaignWayne Rooney works as a pundit on Amazon Prime Video during Liverpool vs PSG in the Champions League.(Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)Wayne Rooney says Liverpool lacks the required aggression and energy to match the levels that it reached last season under Arne Slot, which is holding the club back in a difficult campaign.Mohamed Salah's physical levels have declined and Luis Diaz has been missed this season. In the case of the Colombian, he has been excellent for Bayern Munich and helped fire Vincent Kompany's men into the Champions League semi-finals earlier this week, scoring a great goal to knock out Trent Alexander-Arnold and Real Madrid."Diaz and even [Darwin] Nunez was a nuisance and he wasn’t great," Rooney said of the duo that Liverpool sold last summer on his BBC podcast.READ MORE: How Liverpool could line up next season with 3 transfers to transform Arne Slot's sideREAD MORE: Arne Slot makes bold prediction for next season and hits back at Liverpool 'doubts'"When you go to Anfield, you used to have it with Stevie [Gerrard], with Dirk Kuyt, they used to press you aggressively.
They’ve lost that a little bit."Alexander Isak has not been fit for most of his first season at Anfield while Cody Gakpo has never been that physical. And Slot has spoken numerous times about injuries meaning some players — including Hugo Ekitike — being overplayed.This weekend, Liverpool travels to Everton's new stadium for the first time — a game in which intensity is a must.
So no, being tired has no influence on the game on Sunday."Get LFC's 2025/26 season home and away kitsThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. With Ekitike out and Isak still working his way back, Gakpo and Salah may also start in a front three.Liverpool.com says: The pressing this season has not always been effective, but there are reasons to think that can change.