Wayne Rooney Critiques Mohamed Salah Following Liverpool's Defeat to Manchester City
Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United and England star, has publicly criticized Mohamed Salah following Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
On the BBC's "Match of the Day," Rooney remarked that Salah, despite his impressive track record, failed to meet the defensive expectations of his position during the match, which left right-back Conor Bradley struggling against the pace of Belgian winger Jeremy Doku.
Rooney stated:
"Mohamed Salah is a key player for the team and has been among the Premier League's elite for the past several years. However, in crucial matches, he must increase his effort and provide defensive support. He left Conor Bradley to fend for himself against Doku, which disrupted the team's overall balance."
The all-time leading scorer for Manchester United continued:
"We observed Ryan Gravenberch attempting to assist Bradley, which created openings in midfield that Manchester City exploited effectively. Salah needed to take on additional defensive duties to prevent these gaps from forming."
This is not the first instance of Rooney's criticism toward Salah; he had previously questioned the Egyptian's defensive work rate after Liverpool's 2-1 loss to Chelsea, asserting that "Salah does not contribute enough to support his teammates when possession is lost."
Post-match, the criticism extended beyond Rooney, as Manchester City fans took to social media to mock Salah, saying: "Get out of our little kid's pocket," alluding to Doku's dominance over him during the game.
It is important to note that Mohamed Salah, who ranks as Liverpool's third all-time top scorer, has been a standout performer for the club in recent years. However, his perceived decline in form during significant matches has led to ongoing debate in English football, particularly regarding his defensive contributions and tactical role in challenging games.
