Wayne Rooney believes Mohamed Salah should be dropped from the Liverpool squad for their final game of the season.
The Reds were beaten 4-2 by Aston Villa on Friday night and Salah took to social media on Saturday urging the team to rediscover their identity.
In a post on X, the Liverpool forward described the defeat as “very painful”, adding that he wants to see the side return to being a “heavy metal attacking team”.
It was announced in March that Salah would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season having won nine trophies since joining in the summer of 2017.
Saturday’s clash with Brentford at Anfield is set to be Salah’s farewell to the club, but former Manchester United striker Rooney suggested he should be “nowhere near the stadium” for that game.
“I find it sad at the end of what he’s done and what he’s achieved at Liverpool,” he told the Wayne Rooney Show.
“I just think for Salah to come out and aim another dig at Arne Slot – whether Arne Slot’s there next season or not – it’s not the point for him to come out and aim another dig at him. It’s really disappointing.
“He’s talking about he wants to play heavy metal football, so he’s basically saying he wants Jurgen Klopp football. Now I don’t think Mo Salah can cope with that type of football anymore, I think his legs have gone, not fully gone, but to play at the high tempo and high intensity now is very difficult for him.
“It’s just sad. If I was Arne Slot, I’d have him nowhere near the stadium in the last game.
“I had it with Alex Ferguson, I had a disagreement and fall-out. At Alex Ferguson’s last game at Old Trafford he left me out of the squad for that reason.
“He’s almost just dropped the grenade and said he doesn’t trust and believe in Arne Slot and almost thrown his teammates who are going to be there next season and let them have to deal with that as well and put them into a position.”
In December, Salah’s future at Liverpool was in doubt after suggesting he had no relationship with Slot in post-match comments made after a draw with Leeds.
The forward has struggled to match his form from recent seasons, scoring seven Premier League goals in 26 appearances this term.
Rooney added: “I think he’s been very selfish in what he’s done in the two occasions.
“It’s a shame and fans will be on his side, but I think when you look deeper into it and having been in a dressing room in a similar situation to that as well, Mo Salah knows exactly what he’s doing.
“Again, I’ve questioned Arne Slot this season, but that’s your manager. You can’t publicly disrespect him twice the way he has and get away with it.
“That’s where if I was Arne Slot, I’d have to pull rank and just say, ‘listen, you’re not coming anywhere near the place on Saturday, whether you like it or not’.
“I really doubt he will do it, but I think he should.
“It’s just a shame to see one of the great, iconic Premier League players leave the Premier League probably in this situation.”
