Rooney questions Salah’s work rate

Rooney’s critique and what it signals

Wayne Rooney publicly questioned Mohamed Salah’s work rate after Liverpool’s third straight defeat. The veteran’s observation moved the spotlight beyond goals and assists, turning the focus to the player’s effort, timing, and willingness to press. Rooney framed the discussion around Salah work ethic, a phrase that carries weight in a squad built on relentless energy and vertical tempo. By tying the dip in performance to a perceived intensity lapse, Rooney suggested that even elite finishers must maintain sprint speed, work rate, and discipline to sustain the team’s high-press approach. For fans and analysts, this is less about a one-off slump and more about whether Salah work ethic remains aligned with Klopp’s demanding system. BBC Sport has been tracking the wider debate as Liverpool navigate a troubling stretch.

Klopp’s reply will be watched closely. The issue at hand isn’t simply whether Salah can score, but whether his movement, tracking back, and willingness to press match the team’s required standard. The focus on Salah work ethic acknowledges his quality, while stressing the importance of sustained intensity in every phase of play. If Salah work ethic is questioned publicly, the coaching staff must decide whether to adjust pressing triggers, tweak support runs, or rotate personnel to reestablish rhythm. The critique also invites a broader discussion about leadership and accountability within a squad chasing consistency in a congested schedule. The Guardian emphasizes that the whole front line must lift together.