Wayne Rooney Critiques Mohamed Salah After Liverpool's Loss to Manchester City
Former England star Wayne Rooney, a legend of Manchester United and the national team, has criticized Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah after Liverpool suffered a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
In comments made during the BBC show "Match of the Day," Rooney stated that Salah, despite his significant stature in the team, failed to fulfill his defensive responsibilities, which left right-back Conor Bradley struggling against the pace of Belgian winger Jeremy Doku.
Rooney remarked:
"Mohamed Salah is a crucial part of the team and has been one of the best players in the Premier League over the last six or seven years, but he needs to put in more effort in big games and provide defensive support. He left Conor Bradley to fend for himself against Doku, which significantly disrupted the team's balance."
The all-time leading scorer for Manchester United added:
"We saw Ryan Gravenberch trying to assist Bradley, which opened up spaces in midfield that Manchester City exploited effectively. Salah should have taken more responsibility defensively to close those gaps."
This is not the first time Rooney has criticized the Egyptian star; he previously questioned Salah's defensive commitment after Liverpool's 2-1 loss to Chelsea, stating that "Salah does not put in enough effort to help his teammates when they lose possession."
Following the match, the criticism extended beyond Rooney, as Manchester City fans mocked Salah on social media, saying: "Come out of our little child's pocket," referring to Doku's dominance over him during the game.
It is worth noting that Mohamed Salah, the third-highest scorer in Liverpool's history, has been one of the standout players for the team in recent years. However, discussions regarding his decline in performance during significant matches are increasingly prevalent in English football circles, particularly in light of ongoing criticism of his defensive contributions and tactical role in challenging games.
