Liverpool legends Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have come under fire from Wayne Rooney after the Reds’ latest disappointing defeat.
Arne Slot’s side suffered a 2-1 loss to Chelsea, marking their third consecutive defeat across all competitions and deepening concerns about their form.
Former Manchester United striker Rooney questioned the leadership within Liverpool’s dressing room and criticised Salah’s work rate during the loss at Stamford Bridge.
He claimed the Egyptian forward failed to support defensively as his full-back was repeatedly exposed during Chelsea’s late attacking spell, reports Echo.
The defeat saw Estevao Willian’s stoppage-time winner deny Liverpool a crucial comeback, leaving them trailing behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
Rooney suggested Salah’s mentality may have been affected by the club’s big-money signings this summer, including Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, and Alexander Isak.
Rooney Questions Liverpool’s Leadership
According to Rooney, the new arrivals might have bruised Salah’s ego and disrupted the team’s leadership balance in the dressing room.
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He also pointed fingers at senior figures like Van Dijk and Alisson, urging them to enforce higher standards among teammates.
Rooney expressed concern that Salah “looked lost” recently and lacked the usual determination seen in previous successful campaigns.
The ex-England captain believes Liverpool’s leaders must step up immediately to restore confidence and unity before their title hopes completely fade away.
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