Wayne Rooney takes aim at Mo Salah and blames him for Liverpool problems

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Wayne Rooney has publicly criticized Mohamed Salah’s commitment and defensive effort following Liverpool's 2-1 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Rooney questioned Salah’s work rate, highlighting that the Liverpool forward did not adequately support his teammates defensively during critical moments of the match.

Rooney noted that while Salah has been one of the Premier League's top players for a considerable time, his recent performances show a decline in defensive responsibility. He said, “Top players have an ego, and Mo Salah has been one of the best players in the league for a long time,” but added that when things are going badly, such as in the recent Chelsea game, Salah’s lack of defensive effort is problematic.

The key moment Rooney pointed to occurred in stoppage time when Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella broke free down the right flank, the same side Salah defends, and crossed for Estevão Willian’s late winner. Rooney criticized Salah for failing to track Cucurella’s run, which exposed Liverpool’s right-hand side repeatedly throughout the match. Liverpool's right back positions, occupied by Conor Bradley and later Dominik Szoboszlai, were also targeted but Rooney emphasized Salah’s defensive shortcomings above all.

Rooney’s comments come amid a tough week for Salah, who has scored only two Premier League goals this season. His traditionally high offensive output has not been matched by the defensive work expected at Liverpool, causing concern among former players and fans alike.

Overall, Rooney’s critique centers on the need for Salah to improve his defensive work rate to help Liverpool maintain a balanced and more resilient team structure moving forward.

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