Wayne Rooney calls for Liverpool fans to support current boss Arne Slot
Wayne Rooney believes Liverpool fans should stop talking about a possible return for Jurgen Klopp, with woes worsening for current boss Arne Slot following their 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday, reports BritPanorama.
The Reds suffered a significant defeat at the hands of Sean Dyche’s side, with goals from Murillo, Nicolo Savona, and Morgan Gibbs-White securing a comprehensive victory.
This defeat adds to a troubling statistic: Liverpool have now lost eight of their last 11 matches across all competitions, intensifying scrutiny on Slot’s management.
Some supporters have started to voice their desire for Klopp, who departed Anfield in the summer of 2024, to return in a bid to revive the team’s fortunes.
However, Rooney, speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, urged fans to move beyond calling for Klopp’s reinstatement, drawing a parallel to Sir Alex Ferguson’s enduring legacy at Manchester United after his 2013 departure. “They’re going through a hard time, aren’t they?” said the 40-year-old. “You’ve probably got to look at the effect of what sadly happened to [Diogo] Jota. What effect does that have on the players because that’s his team-mates? That surely has to have an effect.”
Rooney did not shy away from expressing concerns regarding the team’s performances. “There’s no excuse for not fighting and not tackling. I think Slot’s got a big job to get them back playing and winning,” he stated. “With Slot, Klopp keeps getting brought up. ‘He’s not Jurgen Klopp, he’s not as good as Jurgen Klopp’. But I think the Liverpool fans just need to move away from that and get behind him.”
This season has seen Liverpool star Mohamed Salah struggle to replicate his previous form. The Egypt international scored 29 league goals and provided 18 assists last term, contributing significantly to the club’s Premier League title success. However, this season, Salah has netted just four goals in his first 12 league matches, alongside only two assists, raising questions about his impact on the team.
Rooney believes it’s time for Salah to be taken out of the spotlight for the benefit of the entire squad. “If I was Slot, I’d try and make a big decision just so it has an impact on the rest of the team,” he suggested. “Salah is not helping them defensively. If you’re one of the players who they’ve signed and you’re on the bench and you’ve seen him not running – and again he’s a club legend and everything he’s done for the club – but if you’re on the bench, then what message does that send to you?”
Liverpool’s defeat against Nottingham Forest has left them languishing in 12th place in the Premier League table, a stark contrast to their usual standings.
Next, Liverpool will face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday night, a crucial fixture as they strive to improve their position after accumulating nine points from their first four matches, with their only setback being a defeat to Galatasaray.
In the end, this all feels like a sobering reminder of how football’s relentless nature can transform hope into frustration, and how the game’s narrative twists can leave even the most loyal supporters questioning their fortunes.
