National News – Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has urged Liverpool FC manager Arne Slot to leave Mohamed Salah out of the club’s final Premier League game following the winger’s criticism of the team’s playing style.

Salah sparked controversy after Liverpool’s 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa FC when he publicly called for a return to the aggressive “heavy metal” football introduced by former manager Jürgen Klopp.

The Egyptian forward said the style should remain the identity of the club and insisted every new player must adapt to it.

Rooney described the comments as disrespectful to Slot, especially at a time when Liverpool recently secured the Premier League title in the Dutch manager’s first season in charge.

According to the former England striker, Salah’s public remarks appeared to question the authority and direction of the current Liverpool boss.

The ex-Manchester United forward also claimed Salah may no longer be physically capable of handling the intense pressing football he wants restored at Anfield.

Rooney argued that age and physical demands could make it difficult for the Liverpool star to consistently perform at the high tempo associated with Klopp’s era.

Rooney further stated that if he were in Slot’s position, Salah would not be involved in Liverpool’s final match of the season against Brentford FC.

He compared the situation to his own disagreement with former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, which once led to him being dropped from a squad.

Salah is expected to leave Liverpool at the end of the season after scoring 257 goals and winning six major trophies with the club.

Rooney, however, believes the controversy has overshadowed what should have been a memorable farewell for one of the Premier League’s most successful players.