Wayne Rooney: Mohamed Salah's attitude hurts Liverpool, Arne Slot must drop him

Rooney described the Liverpool winger as "selfish" following the club's recent struggles and questioned his influence on the side during a disappointing campaign.

The criticism came after Salah claimed Liverpool must return to being a "heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear" in the aftermath of a damaging 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa, which appears to be critical of head coach Arne Slot.

"That is the football I know how to play and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good. It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it," he said in a social media post.

The loss left the defending Premier League champions in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.

"I find it sad at the end of what he's done and what he's achieved at Liverpool. It's not the point for him to come out and aim another dig at Slot," Rooney stated on the Wayne Rooney Show.

"He wants to play heavy metal football, so he's basically saying he wants Jurgen Klopp football. Now I don't think Mo Salah can cope with that type of football any more. I think his legs have gone to play at that high tempo and high intensity.

"If I was Arne Slot, I'd have him nowhere near the stadium in the last game. I had it with Alex Ferguson. I had a disagreement and fallout and at Alex Ferguson's last game at Old Trafford, he left me out of the squad for that reason.

"He's almost just dropped the grenade and said he doesn't trust and believe in Arne Slot and almost thrown his team-mates who are going to be there next season and let them have to deal with that as well and put them into a position."

The 33-year-old Egyptian forward announced in March that he would leave Liverpool at the end of the season, concluding a hugely successful nine-year stay at Anfield.

Salah has scored 257 goals for the club and helped secure six major trophies, while also winning a record four Premier League Golden Boot awards.

Despite netting 29 league goals during Liverpool's title-winning campaign in Arne Slot's first season in charge, Salah has struggled to reproduce that form this year, scoring only 12 goals in 40 appearances.

"I think Salah's trying to vindicate himself and make himself feel better because he's had a very poor season," added Rooney.

"So I think he's been very selfish in what he's done in the two occasions. It's a shame and fans will be on his side, but I think when you look deeper into it and having been in a dressing room in a similar situation to that as well, Mo Salah knows exactly what he's doing.

"That's your manager. You can't publicly disrespect him twice the way he has and get away with it. And that's where if I was Arne Slot, I'd have to pull rank and just say, listen, you're not coming anywhere near the place on Saturday, whether you like it or not. I really doubt he will do it, but I think he should.

"Of course he deserves a good send off but does he deserve it just for this? It's the second time he's done it. it's just a shame to see one of the great icons of Premier League players leave the Premier League probably in this situation."

READ MORE: Mohammed Salah slams Liverpool decline in scathing statement