Former Manchester United ahead Wayne Rooney has not held again in his evaluation of Mohamed Salah following Liverpool’s late, painful defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Whereas a lot of the post-match fallout has targeted on squandered possibilities and stoppage-time heartbreak, Rooney has singled out Salah’s defensive utility as a serious concern and argued that senior figures within the dressing room, like Virgil van Dijk, must be addressing the problem.
Salah’s outing at Stamford Bridge was notable for what he didn’t do. The Egyptian ahead, who has been nicely beneath his normal scoring output this marketing campaign, failing to seek out the online in 5 of his final seven league appearances, missed a number of alternatives.
Wayne Rooney critcises Mohamed Salah for defensive work
These misses have been expensive, however Rooney’s critique went past ending, focusing squarely on defensive work-rate.
In response to Rooney, Salah’s positioning and monitoring again have been insufficient at essential moments, leaving his full-back uncovered and contributing to an eventual 96th-minute winner for Chelsea.
Talking on the Wayne Rooney present, the previous striker mentioned:
‘With the gamers coming in, Isak, [Hugo] Ekitike, and Wirtz, the cash they’ve spent on the, what does Salah suppose now?
‘Prime gamers have an ego, and Mo Salah has been top-of-the-line gamers within the league for a very long time.
‘I feel the final week has proven that when it’s gone nicely, you’re scoring objectives and also you’re successful video games, it’s nice and the crew will put up with that, however during the last week, I’d query his work ethic.
‘I do know he doesn’t at all times get again and defend as a lot, however within the Chelsea recreation, his full-back is getting torn aside, and he’s watching.’
Rooney believes senior figures, the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, must be having frank conversations with Salah about his defensive duties.
In Rooney’s view, management within the dressing room isn’t nearly rallies after wins, it’s additionally about exhausting truths when performances dip and collective requirements slip.
Rooney needs Liverpool gamers to speak with Salah
He added:
‘Gamers like Van Dijk and Alisson, who I do know wasn’t taking part in, however the leaders within the dressing room must be telling him it is advisable to assist it. For me, that was a fear.
‘He has regarded a little bit bit misplaced the previous week, for my part.’
Rooney’s criticism of Salah is blunt however not with out advantage, elite gamers are judged on each their attacking output and their contribution to crew construction.
Liverpool should act on this to cease their run of worrying outcomes earlier than it’s to late.
In the meanwhile, they’re just one level behind Arsenal within the Premier League title race however to have any probability of successful the league or any trophy this season, they need their greatest participant, that’s Salah, to carry out on the high of his capability.
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