Wayne Rooney has launched a stinging attack on Mohamed Salah, branding the Liverpool forward “selfish” and urging manager Arne Slot to drop him for the club’s final Premier League game of the season.

The former Manchester United striker and England captain was reacting to Salah’s public criticism of Slot’s tactical approach following Liverpool’s 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa. In a social media post, Salah called for a return to the “heavy metal” style of play associated with former manager Jürgen Klopp, insisting that this identity “cannot be negotiable” and that anyone joining Liverpool “should adapt to it.”

The comments were widely interpreted as a direct challenge to Slot’s methods, and Rooney believes the Egyptian has overstepped the mark, particularly so close to his Anfield exit.

“I find it sad at the end of what he’s done and what he’s achieved at Liverpool,” Rooney said on his show. “It’s not the point for him to come out and aim another dig at Slot.”

Rooney went further, questioning whether Salah is even capable of playing the relentless, high-pressing football he appears to be demanding.

“He wants to play heavy metal football, so he’s basically saying he wants Jürgen Klopp football,” Rooney argued. “Now I don’t think Mo Salah can cope with that type of football anymore. I think his legs have gone to play at that high tempo and high intensity.”

With Salah set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season after scoring 257 goals and winning six major trophies, many supporters had expected an emotional farewell in the final home fixture against Brentford. Rooney, however, believes Slot should take a hard line.

“If I were Arne Slot, I’d have him nowhere near the stadium in the last game,” he said. “He’s almost just dropped the grenade and said he doesn’t trust and believe in Arne Slot.”

Rooney compared the situation to his own fallout with Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, recalling how he was omitted from Ferguson’s final Old Trafford squad after a disagreement.

For Rooney, Salah’s outburst has cast a shadow over what should have been a celebratory goodbye.

“You can’t publicly disrespect him twice the way he has and get away with it,” Rooney added. “Of course, he deserves a good send-off, but does he deserve it just for this? It’s a shame to see one of the great icons of Premier League players leave the Premier League probably in this situation.”