SAVE THE JOB: WAYNE ROONEY'S ADVICE TO ARNE SLOT, DROP MO SALAH FOR IMPACT
Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney says Liverpool coach Arne Slot should bench Mohamed Salah to fix the team's poor form. The Reds have lost 6 of their last 7 Premier League games, with Rooney citing Salah's lack of defensive effort.
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Wayne Rooney, a Manchester United legend, has suggested that Liverpool's coach, Arne Slot, should bench Mohamed Salah, who hasn't been at his best. This comes as the Reds have lost six of their last seven Premier League matches, placing them in the league's lower ranks. Rooney believes taking Salah out of the starting lineup might be what Liverpool needs to turn things around.
Liverpool's Struggles Continue After Loss to Nottingham Forest
Liverpool's poor performance continued after a 3-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest. The team has now lost half of their 12 Premier League games this season, letting in 20 goals. Slot insisted after the game that a solution isn't far off. Still, his future with the team is in question after such a bad start to defending their title.
Why Benching Salah Could Help
Rooney thinks that benching Salah could be a way for Liverpool to improve. On The Wayne Rooney Show, he pointed out that Salah isn't helping the team enough on defence. Rooney questioned what message it sends to other players if they see Salah not tracking back, despite his legendary status with the club.
When asked if Slot should bench Salah, Rooney said he absolutely believes so. He thinks Slot needs to make a statement, make the team harder to beat, and ensure every player is working hard. Once they start winning, Salah can be brought back in, hopefully with a renewed commitment to defence. Rooney feels this change could definitely benefit the team.
A Liverpool Icon Defends Salah
While Rooney isn't the only former player suggesting Salah should be benched, Liverpool legend John Barnes doesn't think Salah is the issue. Barnes told Mirror Football that Liverpool's style of play has changed and that the team is still adjusting. He believes the team is experiencing growing pains and that people are wrongly blaming Salah's age.
Barnes explained that the team is getting used to a new approach that doesn't rely as much on creating chances specifically for Salah. While Salah will still be a threat, he won't receive the ball in dangerous positions as often. With more dribblers in the team, Liverpool isn't playing as quickly, which means Salah can't use his speed as effectively.
Barnes still considers Salah one of the best 11 players on the team. While he may not be the main focus as before, Barnes thinks Salah is still important. It's just a matter of better integrating the team and finding a way to play that suits everyone.
Salah's Upcoming AFCON Absence
Liverpool fans will be watching to see if Slot decides to bench Salah, who has scored just four Premier League goals this season. Slot will also have to manage without Salah during the holiday season as he heads to the Africa Cup of Nations in December. Salah could miss several games, including matches against Tottenham, Wolves, Leeds, Fulham, Arsenal, and Burnley, as well as the FA Cup third round. The tournament starts on December 21, with the final set for January 18.
Next Up: PSV in the Champions League
Liverpool will try to put their Premier League troubles behind it when they face PSV in the Champions League. PSV is currently leading the Eredivisie and is on an 11-match unbeaten run. The two teams played last season, with PSV winning 3-2. A similar result on Tuesday would add more pressure on Slot and his struggling team.
ALISSON "OPEN" TO LIVERPOOL EXIT AS JUVENTUS PREPARE MASSIVE SWAP DEAL OFFER
With Alisson Becker open to a Juventus move, Liverpool is scouring the market for a replacement ahead of a major summer rebuild.
Liverpool isn’t just sitting around; it’s actively searching for someone to take Alisson Becker’s spot since Juventus looks serious about making a bid for their veteran keeper. Even though Alisson’s got a year left on his deal after the club triggered an extension back in March, he might leave this summer.
He’s been Liverpool’s go-to guy in goal since he arrived from Roma in 2018; he’s played 332 games, cost £67 million, and for years, he was untouchable. But injuries have piled up during the 2025/26 season, and it’s starting to look like his time at Anfield could be coming to an end.
Juventus are now right in the mix. Apparently, Alisson isn’t against the idea of leaving Liverpool, and Juventus could even throw their own goalkeeper, Michele Di Gregorio, into the deal for the Brazilian.
Juve are ready to offer Alisson a contract running through the summer of 2028, with an extra year as an option. Sky Sports says Liverpool already knows what’s happening and is getting their ducks in a row before a massive transfer window.
The club’s facing a big summer. Salah and Robertson are going, and now they might need a new keeper too. Giorgi Mamardashvili has stepped up when Alisson was out, playing 18 games across all competitions, but he’s injured himself, leaving Slot with just Freddie Woodman as his only fit option.
Recently, Slot was asked if losing Alisson at the same time as Robertson and Salah would be too much. He said, “The club makes decisions it thinks are right. If this happens, there's a reason behind it, maybe another good reason why we did what we did.”
He pointed out that Liverpool doesn’t make transfers on a whim. Decisions are thought through, with the club’s interests always at heart.
Regarding keeping Alisson for his experience, Slot admitted that’s one argument, but there are others and, ultimately, the club will decide what’s best. Alisson’s contract still has a year left.
When pressed about Juventus, Slot replied, “Ali’s main focus is clear; he wants to get back in goal for Liverpool as soon as possible and then play for Brazil. That’s his short- and mid-term future.”
LIVERPOOL WARNED TO OFFER CURTIS JONES NEW CONTRACT BEFORE 14-MONTH DEADLINE
Analysis: Curtis Jones’ elite passing stats and why Jermaine Pennant believes Liverpool cannot afford to lose the versatile midfielder.
Liverpool really needs to sort out a new contract for Curtis Jones before they make the same mistake it did with Luis Diaz. That’s what the Inside Liverpool panel thinks, especially now that Diaz is lighting up Bayern Munich and making Liverpool’s transfer moves look pretty questionable.
Bayern’s front three, with Diaz in the mix, have racked up 100 goals across all competitions this season – the first time any non-Spanish team has done that. Diaz himself has bagged 26 goals in 46 matches and just scored against PSG in the Champions League semi-final.
Looking back, Liverpool probably wish they hadn’t let Diaz walk for £65 million last summer. Since then, fans at Anfield haven’t seen anyone who brings what he did: that relentless pressing, always looming as a threat on the counter. Sure, they’ve brought in Rio Ngumoha, a teenager, just 17, but Arne Slot, the coach, knows you can’t just expect him to fill those shoes right away.
On talkSPORT’s Inside Liverpool, Jermaine Pennant, who has played for the club, said that Liverpool has to bring in another proven attacker over the summer. Pennant’s point: Diaz was great whether he played in the middle or on the left, and Liverpool needs someone with that kind of flexibility. You don’t want to sign a backup like Hugo Ekitike and then end up overcrowding with too many strikers when the main guy returns.
Now, Jones could end up in the same boat this summer. There’s a lot of uncertainty around his future, and when you look at the numbers, he’s only got 14 months left on his contract. Several clubs in England and Europe are watching, and he’s only started 15 games for Liverpool this season.
Even though he hasn’t played much, Jones is impressing; he’s second only to Rodri in midfielder passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He’s also ranked second behind Moises Caicedo for passing accuracy, and right behind Rayan Cherki for carries. Pennant said the club can’t afford to let him go: Jones is so versatile; you can play him anywhere in midfield or even right back. He knows the club, loves it, and helps connect the squad.
Jones has been one of the top performers recently. Pennant thinks Liverpool should offer him a new deal, especially since the squad is thinning out and they’ve already lost Trent Alexander-Arnold. In the end, it’s up to Jones if he wants to stay or move for more game time, but Liverpool has to make the offer while they still can.
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