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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.

Save The Job: Wayne Rooney's Advice to Arne Slot, Drop Mo Salah for Impact
Rooney Says benching Salah Is Slot's Only Option

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.

ANFIELD EXIT SIGNS: WHY SALAH’S FOREST FRUSTRATION SUGGESTS HIS LIVERPOOL CHAPTER IS FINALLY CLOSING

Anfield tension: Discover why Mohamed Salah was subbed for Rio Ngumoha and how his 9-game drought threatens Liverpool's top four.

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Liverpool legend hits lowest point after dismal display against Nottingham Forest

Mohamed Salah just hasn’t looked like himself this season at Liverpool. Against Nottingham Forest, you could see his frustration all over his face.

Not long ago, things seemed to be turning around for him. Salah had started scoring again. In his last five games, he picked up four assists and a goal. It looked like maybe he was back.

But in the Forest game, Liverpool actually looked sharper after Salah went off and Rio Ngumoha came on. Ngumoha brought so much energy that he changed the whole vibe of the attack. Salah clearly wasn’t happy about getting subbed, even though it was the right call from Arne Slot.

Let’s be honest, who looks pleased when they get taken off? It always kicks off a load of speculation, with people watching for every tiny sign that something’s wrong, over-analysing every shrug or frown. But really, Salah just looked disappointed in his own performance and in the fact that Liverpool were still level with Forest. It probably wasn’t just about getting hooked.

Still, even with Salah’s recent improvement, it feels like his time at Anfield is winding down. It’s rare for a player to leave on a high note. The rumours about MLS and Saudi Arabia aren’t going away, and you get the sense he won’t be any different.

On BBC Five Live, Clinton Morrison didn’t hold back. He said if Salah and Liverpool keep playing like this, forget about the Champions League. “There are still some big problems there, aren’t there?” he told Rick Edwards. “Salah didn’t look happy again.”

Edwards agreed, saying, “If Liverpool play like that for the rest of the season, they’re not getting Champions League. And Salah didn’t look happy again, did he?”

Morrison pointed out how lively Ngumoha was when he came on, setting up a disallowed goal and sparking the team. “Salah didn’t do any of that at all,” he said.

Edwards pressed on, “I think there’s still a big issue there, isn’t there?”

Morrison agreed. “Yeah, well, he hasn’t scored in nine Premier League matches now. It’s his longest run without a goal. I don’t think things are harmonious behind the scenes between him and Arne Slot. We saw hints of it before Christmas, with that ‘throw me under the bus’ comment and then the apology. He looked grumpy about being subbed, but if you’re playing badly, you’re going to get subbed. That’s just how it goes.”

WHY BAYERN BELIEVE LIVERPOOL ALREADY SECURED A PERSONAL DEAL WITH YAN DIOMANDE

Football news: Diomande to Liverpool. Get the report on Leipzig’s price tag and Bayern’s secret plan for Gakpo.

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Leipzig set a massive valuation on Diomande as Premier League giants circle

Bayern Munich think Yan Diomande already has a deal lined up with Liverpool for a summer move to Anfield, at least according to recent reports.

Liverpool wants Diomand,e too. They see him as the perfect long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah. Their manager, Arne Slot, and sporting director, Richard Hughes, are both on board with the idea. Fraser Fletcher from TEAMtalk broke the news back in December 2025, and he’s usually reliable.

But it won’t be cheap. Sources say RB Leipzig want at least €100 million for Diomande. The 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger only joined Leipzig from Leganes last summer, so they’re not in a rush to sell.

Bayern are definitely interested, but word out of Munich is they’re convinced Liverpool already have something agreed with the player. That info comes from Bayern Space, a well-followed and respected account on X. They’ve got 32,500 followers, and even journalists like Lewis Steele from The Daily Mail trust their updates.

Here’s where things get interesting. Bayern Space doubled down on their Diomande claims, but they also say Bayern have turned their attention to Cody Gakpo as Plan B for the left wing. Apparently, some inside the club believe Gakpo could really thrive in the Bundesliga, similar to what Luis Díaz has done. And now, some of Bayern’s board members are starting to think the Premier League club with a personal agreement for Diomande has to be Liverpool. They don’t have concrete proof, just a strong feeling based on what they’re hearing from people close to Gakpo’s camp.

The irony? If Bayern spend up to £65 million to sign Gakpo from Liverpool, they’d basically be handing Liverpool the money to buy Diomande, the very player who turned them down in the first place. That’s how quickly things can flip at the top of the transfer market. Some people at Bayern say they’d be fine with it if Gakpo delivers right away on the pitch.

But what are Liverpool’s plans for Gakpo? That’s still up for debate. Bayern Space is adamant Bayern want him, but Pete O’Rourke from Football Insider says the German club aren’t planning to go after the Dutch forward.

O’Rourke thinks Liverpool could sell Gakpo this summer, but he’s not convinced Bayern will be the buyers. He points out that last summer, Bayern had to choose between Gakpo and Díaz for the left wing; they went with Díaz, and it’s worked out great. Díaz has settled in quickly and become a key player for Vincent Kompany’s team, basically locking down that left side.

Gakpo’s versatile; he can play anywhere up front, so you can see why Bayern would keep tabs on him. But O’Rourke doesn't think he’s a top priority for them at the moment. And Liverpool aren’t desperate to sell either, especially since they’re a bit short on left-sided attackers.

If Liverpool do sign another left winger this summer, maybe that could open the door for Gakpo to leave. But he’s under contract until 2030, and, by all accounts, he’s happy at Liverpool even if he gets some criticism from fans for his performances. Arne Slot clearly rates him, since he keeps giving him game time.

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