Mohamed Salah is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season and Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has given his thoughts on why the Egyptian winger has struggled this season.
Wayne Rooney gives his thoughts on Mo Salah’s departure from Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)
Wayne Rooney believes Mohamed Salah’s legs are gone and has warned Virgil van Dijk faces the same fate. Salah is set to leave Liverpool this summer after impressing at Anfield.
He leaves the club after one of their most difficult seasons on Merseyside, scoring just seven goals in the Premier League this term, but a role in Arne Slott’s team is not necessarily guaranteed.
And Rooney believes age has finally caught up with the 33-year-old and believes the Liverpool captain will follow the same path. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the Manchester United icon said: “I’ve said it since the beginning of the season, age comes down on us all and we all get weaker.
“I think that’s happened with Salah this season, but Virgil van Dijk hasn’t been the same this season. They’re leaders in the dressing room. It’s difficult for other players to make their mark and become leaders.
read more: Arne Slott admits whether Mohamed Salah played in his last match for Liverpoolread more: Liverpool’s injury list ‘increasingly long’, Arne Slott gives Manchester United two updates
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“I don’t think he (van Dijk) will (leave), but you’ve seen players stay there for too long.”
He added: “The most difficult thing for a player is to understand that you might not be at the level you should be. When Zlatan Ibrahimovic came in, as I did at Manchester United, I wasn’t playing. I wanted to play so I left immediately. I accepted that.”
Unlike Salah, Van Dijk will remain at Liverpool for the time being. The Dutch defender only signed an extension last year and is still under contract with the Reds until next summer.
Wayne Rooney also has concerns about Van Dijk’s future (Image: Getty Images)
Salah’s departure from Liverpool has been marked by a major change of pace, with the Egyptian set to miss this Sunday’s final Premier League game against Manchester United. The forward missed last weekend’s game against Crystal Palace with a hamstring injury.
Liverpool manager Arne Slott has ruled him out of this weekend’s fixtures, but expects the Dutchman to return before the end of the season.
“We know with Mo, he’s always working hard to come back, both when he’s good and when he’s injured,” Slott said in a pre-game press conference. “We expect him to be back at the end of the season because he’s usually in better shape than other players.”
“It’s not about tomorrow. It’s always a big relief that his injury is minor to play in the World Cup with us. For a player who deserves to be sent off, that’s always great news.”
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