Former England captain Wayne Rooney has sparked controversy by calling for Mohamed Salah to be dropped for Liverpool's final game of the season. In a surprise move, Salah took to social media on Saturday to urge his teammates to rediscover their identity, after a season marred by inconsistency and poor results.
Liverpool's Premier League campaign has been marked by a series of unconvincing performances, with the team struggling to find their rhythm and consistency. Despite this, the Reds still managed to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League table, with 68 points from 38 games.
However, Rooney, who is now the manager of Derby County, believes that Salah's comments were a sign of frustration and that the Egyptian forward should be dropped for the final game. 'I think it's a bit of a cry for help, to be honest,' Rooney said in an interview. 'He's a world-class player, but he's not been at his best this season.'
Salah has been one of Liverpool's most consistent performers in recent years, but his form has dipped significantly this season. The 30-year-old has scored just 5 goals in the Premier League this season, compared to 32 goals in the 2021-22 season.
It remains to be seen whether Jürgen Klopp will take Rooney's advice and drop Salah for the final game, but the German manager has already responded to the criticism. 'I don't think it's fair to say that Mohamed is not giving his best,' Klopp said. 'He's working hard and doing everything he can to help the team.'