Rooney calls out Mohamed Salah for not providing leadership for Liverpool amid crisis

Wayne Rooney has criticised Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk for failing to show leadership as Liverpool’s slump deepens following another Premier League defeat.

The former England captain expressed concern over the Reds’ poor form after their 3-1 loss to Brentford — their fourth straight league defeat — which has seen them drop to seventh on the table.

Speaking on his personal podcast, Rooney said the situation had escalated faster than anyone at the club expected.

“No-one has seen this coming, it’s hit them quick, it’s hit them hard and I think they’re struggling to find a way out of it,” he remarked.

The ex-Manchester United striker said this was the moment for senior players to step up and lead.

“This is a time where the manager and the leaders in the team need to figure it out very quickly,” Rooney stated.

He singled out Liverpool’s two most influential stars, Van Dijk and Salah, for not setting the right tone on the pitch despite signing new contracts in recent seasons.

“Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, they’ve signed new deals but I don’t think they’ve really led that team this season,” Rooney said.

He also pointed to their visible frustration during matches as an indicator of deeper issues.

“Body language tells you a lot, and I think we’re seeing slightly different body language from the two of them. They are the top two players in that team and if their body language is not right, that affects everyone else.”

Rooney concluded that the situation should worry Liverpool’s supporters and manager alike.

“If I was a Liverpool fan or the manager, that would be a big concern for me,” he said.