(DDM) – Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has criticised Mohamed Salah’s lack of defensive contribution during Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Rooney, speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day, said Salah failed to help his teammates when City’s attack overwhelmed Liverpool, particularly exposing Conor Bradley on the right flank.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Salah struggled to make any attacking impact throughout the match, registering neither a goal nor an assist as Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez, and Jeremy Doku secured an emphatic win for the defending champions.
“Salah is in the team to score and create goals,” Rooney said. “But in big games, you also have to double up defensively.”
The former England and Manchester United captain added that Salah’s inability to track back left Liverpool vulnerable, allowing City’s wingers to dominate key areas of the pitch.
“I think Salah has to come back and help his teammate,” Rooney continued, emphasising that modern football requires even forwards to participate in defending during high-intensity fixtures.
Rooney also weighed in on the controversy surrounding Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed goal, which would have drawn Liverpool level at 1-1 before City ran away with the match.
“It’s a really good header and the goal should’ve stood for me,” Rooney said, expressing disagreement with the referee’s offside decision.
Van Dijk’s goal was ruled out following a marginal offside call during the build-up, a decision that sparked debate among fans and analysts who felt the Reds were unfairly denied a chance to shift momentum.
The defeat marked Liverpool’s fifth loss in 11 Premier League matches, leaving them eighth on the table and widening the gap to eight points behind leaders Arsenal.
For Salah, the scrutiny continues to grow as his form dips amid Liverpool’s inconsistent performances this season. Critics, including Rooney, have called for greater effort and leadership from the Egyptian forward, especially in games where Liverpool’s defensive structure is tested.
As the title race intensifies, analysts warn that Liverpool must address tactical weaknesses and rediscover their attacking rhythm if they hope to remain in contention against Arsenal and Manchester City, who both look increasingly dominant.
