Wayne Rooney has called out Liverpool’s senior stars, questioning the leadership of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah as the team continues to struggle for consistency.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former Manchester United striker said Liverpool’s recent slump has been “hard to watch,” adding that the Reds’ top players haven’t shown the energy or presence expected of leaders.
“No one saw this coming. It’s hit them fast and hard, and they look like they’re struggling to find a way out,” Rooney said. “This is the moment when the manager and the leaders need to step up and figure it out quickly.”
Rooney, who lifted five Premier League titles during his career, suggested that Van Dijk and Salah haven’t fully lived up to their roles as senior figures in the team.
“They’ve both signed new deals, but I don’t think they’ve really led that team this season,” he continued. “Their body language says a lot — and right now, it’s not great. When your two biggest players look off, it spreads through the entire squad. If I were a Liverpool fan or their manager, I’d be worried.”
After a strong start to the season, Liverpool’s recent results have been disappointing, increasing the pressure on Jürgen Klopp and his players to bounce back.
Rooney also shared his thoughts on Arsenal, saying Mikel Arteta’s team have no reason not to win the league this year.
“Arsenal look ready. They’ve come close for three seasons, they’ve grown, and now the squad is strong enough to go all the way,” he said. “If they don’t win it this time, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a managerial change.”
Arsenal currently sit in top form, with four straight league wins and three clean sheets, the latest being a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
