'It’s a Worry for Me' – Mohamed Salah’s Work Rate Criticised by Wayne Rooney After Tough Week

Wayne Rooney has criticised Mohamed Salah for his work ethic in Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday night, claiming the Egyptian’s ego may have been dented by the club’s recent big-money signings.

 The Reds suffered their third loss in a week, leaving fans and pundits questioning both individual performances and team morale.

Salah, 33, once again failed to find the back of the net, extending his run to five goalless games in seven Premier League appearances.

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Despite several opportunities to score at Stamford Bridge, he was wasteful in front of goal and appeared increasingly frustrated as Liverpool’s title defence continued to unravel.

While Salah’s recent struggles in attack have been notable, it was his lack of defensive contribution that drew Rooney’s sharpest criticism. 

The former England and Manchester United captain believes Salah’s attitude and work rate have noticeably declined since the arrivals of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, who joined in a combined deal worth more than £240 million.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the 38-year-old said: “With the players coming in, Isak, [Hugo] Ekitike, and Wirtz, the money they have spent on the, 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.”

Rooney argued that Salah’s ego and reluctance to track back defensively were evident in the closing moments of the Chelsea defeat, particularly in the buildup to Estevao Willian’s 96th-minute winner. 

Liverpool’s right-hand side was repeatedly exposed, with Salah failing to follow Marc Cucurella’s overlapping run that ultimately led to the decisive goal.

“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,” Rooney continued.

 “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.”

The former Derby County boss believes senior figures like Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker must intervene to restore accountability within the squad. 

“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.”

Under Jurgen Klopp, Salah’s defensive duties were non-negotiable, with the Egyptian often tracking back to assist Trent Alexander-Arnold. 

However, since Arne Slot took over in the summer, Salah’s role has been adjusted to conserve energy for attacking transitions — a change that previously yielded impressive results.

Last season, Salah enjoyed one of his best campaigns statistically, recording 47 Premier League goal involvements and claiming both the Golden Boot and Playmaker Award as Liverpool stormed to a 20th league title. 

In April, after Liverpool were crowned champions, Salah admitted that he himself had suggested to Slot that he rest more defensively to maximize his attacking output. 

“I told him ‘as long as you rest me defensively, I will provide offensively,’” he told Sky Sports. 

“Try to rest me as much as I can, then I will show you the numbers. So I’m glad that I did.”