Salah should not be honoured by Liverpool – Rooney

Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has received a scathing attack from former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney after he openly attacked Liverpool coach Arne Slot.

Salah – who will play the final game of his Liverpool career next weekend – said the defeat at Villa on Friday night was “very painful” and the Reds must return to “being a team that wins trophies”.

Despite announcing he is leaving the club at the end of the season, and with just one game remaining before the end of the 2025-2026 Premier League season, the Egyptian promised to ensure his club’s return to form.

After his comments, Rooney has ripped apart the winger, who he believes should not be able to say goodbye in his final games for the club this Sunday against Brentford.

Salah just dropped the grenade

“I find it sad at the end of what he’s done and what he’s achieved at Liverpool. It’s not the point for him to come out and aim another dig at Slot,” said Rooney as quoted by Flashscore.

“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 to play at that high tempo and high intensity.”

Rooney added: “If I were 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, and 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 (under) who are going to be there next season and let them have to deal with that as well and put them into a position.”

Liverpool prepare Mosaics for Salah

During his statement, Salah said: “I have witnessed this club go from doubters to believers, and from believers to champions. It took hard work and I always did everything I could to help the club get there. Nothing makes me prouder than that.

“Us crumbling to yet another defeat this season was very painful and not what our fans deserve. I want to see Liverpool go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear and back to being a team that wins trophies.

“That is the football I know how to play and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good. It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it.

“Winning some games here and there is not what Liverpool should be about. All teams win games. Liverpool will always be a club that means a great deal to me and to my family. I want to see it succeed for long after I have moved on.

“As I’ve always said, qualifying to next season’s Champions League is the bare minimum and I will do everything I can to make that happen.”

However, Liverpool have confirmed Mosaics will be displayed at Anfield on Sunday in celebration of the departing Andy Robertson and Salah.

The Kop will lead the tribute to Salah while the lower Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand will honour Robertson, with the mosaics to be shown before kick-off.

Sunday’s Premier League home match against Brentford marks their final game as Liverpool players and a special send-off is planned for the duo, with fan mosaics to be displayed.