Wayne Rooney rips Mo Salah apart and makes damning Liverpool dressing room claim
Liverpool suffered their third consecutive defeat as they were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea at Anfield, and Wayne Rooney has questioned Mohamed Salah's work ethic
Wayne Rooney has taken a swipe at Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, questioning his work ethic and suggesting that the arrival of high-profile signings may have dented the Egyptian's ego. The Reds are reeling from their third consecutive defeat, this time a 2-1 loss to Chelsea in the Premier League.
The former Everton and Manchester United forward didn't hold back in his critique of Salah following Liverpool's disappointing performance against Enzo Maresca's side. A last-minute goal from Estevao Willian sealed the defeat for Arne Slot's team, preventing them from reclaiming the top spot in the league.
Rooney suggested that the recent arrivals of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz might have unsettled Salah. He said: "With the players coming in, Isak, [Hugo] Ekitike, and Wirtz, the money they have spent on them, what does Salah think now?".
"Top players have an ego, and Mo Salah has been one of the best players in the league for a long time.
"I think the last week has shown that when it's gone well, you're scoring goals and you're winning games, it's great and the team will put up with that, but over the last week, I'd question his work ethic.
"I know he doesn't always get back and defend as much, but in the Chelsea game, his full-back is getting torn apart, and he is watching.
"Players like Van Dijk and Alisson, who I know wasn't playing, but the leaders in the dressing room should be telling him you need to help it. For me, that was a worry.
"He has looked a little bit lost the past week, in my opinion."
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Rooney has previously voiced concerns that Isak's high-profile move from Newcastle may have unsettled Salah. Earlier this season, he suggested that the Liverpool forward might be 'unhappy' with the Swede's arrival, as it shifted the spotlight away from the Reds' star player.
"Even though Salah has been the best player at Liverpool for years, he won't be happy that Isak has come in and is getting the attention," he commented in September.
"It's a matter of personal pride, he will want to be the best.
"When we signed Tevez, there were lots of reports saying they were concerned that we couldn't play together. But as soon as we signed players, I used to think, 'There's no way he is coming in to take my place'. So that naturally gives you a lift."
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