Liverpool, October 7, 2025 – Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian superstar who led Liverpool to Premier League glory just six months ago, now stands at a career crossroads. Once considered untouchable, the 33-year-old forward is under intense scrutiny after a sluggish start to the 2025–26 season. His struggles have sparked speculation about being dropped, as Arne Slot’s side reels from three straight defeats — the latest a painful 2–1 loss to Chelsea. Former Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney fanned the flames on his Wayne Rooney Show podcast, warning that Salah “is about to get dropped” if his form doesn’t recover. The remarks have fueled widespread debate, deepening fears that Liverpool’s title defense is faltering amid a turbulent transition.
The Stamford Bridge defeat summed up Salah’s current plight. Slot’s team began confidently but quickly lost momentum, conceding to Moisés Caicedo’s 35th-minute strike before Salah briefly revived hope with a poacher’s equalizer from Cody Gakpo’s assist on the hour mark. Yet, in stoppage time, teenage prodigy Estêvão Willian finished Cole Palmer’s through ball to hand Chelsea victory — and Liverpool more questions than answers. Salah’s numbers were alarming: just 42 touches (his fewest in a league start since 2017), one successful dribble all season, and 15 turnovers in the match — contributing to a league-high 105 across 10 games.
Rooney didn’t hold back in his criticism. “He’s miles off it. Look at that Chelsea game — no tracking back, no support for the right-back, just waiting for the ball,” the 39-year-old said. “Liverpool’s getting exposed down that flank because of him. Slot needs to make a statement — drop him, play Chiesa or Díaz instead. It’ll hurt his ego, but that’s how you fix it.”
His sentiment echoes that of others. Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, now a BBC pundit, described Salah as a “small problem” in Slot’s system — arguing that his reluctance to defend leaves Liverpool vulnerable against pressing teams. Sky Sports’ Radar column likewise pointed to a steep decline, linking it partly to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s summer move to Real Madrid — a departure that cost Salah his most creative partner. Without Trent’s trademark deliveries, which provided 12 assists last season, Salah’s expected goals have dropped from 0.82 to 0.45 per 90 minutes.
Slot’s early goodwill is wearing thin. His decision to bench Salah in last month’s Champions League clash with Galatasaray — citing “squad utilization” — has resurfaced as critics call for decisive action. Football365 noted Chelsea’s targeted attacks on Liverpool’s right flank, quoting Marc Cucurella’s post-match admission that Salah’s defensive absence was part of their game plan. Right-back Conor Bradley, deputizing for Alexander-Arnold, was substituted at halftime after repeated overloads. Salah’s heat map from that match showed little defensive involvement — a stark contrast to his sensational 2024–25 campaign of 32 goals and 22 assists.
Statistically, Salah’s decline is hard to ignore. With just three goals and three assists in 10 league matches, his dribble success rate has plummeted to 28% (from 52%), and he’s losing 61% of duels. Social media has been unforgiving — memes mocking his single successful dribble have gone viral, and Saudi clubs such as Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal are being tagged in jest, reigniting transfer rumors as his contract winds down. One viral post joked: “Salah’s lost more balls than a juggler at a funeral.” Still, fans are split: hashtags like #ProtectMo and #DropSalah trend simultaneously as supporters debate whether criticism of a club legend has gone too far.
Slot attempted to calm the storm in his Monday press conference, emphasizing balance. “Mo’s our leader, but football’s about structure. We’re working on giving him more midfield support,” he said, mentioning Federico Chiesa and Luis Díaz as potential rotation options. Yet with Liverpool now third in the table — six points behind Manchester City — and an away trip to Arsenal looming, tension is rising. Critics say FSG’s cautious spending, including £100m on Florian Wirtz (who’s yet to score) and the addition of Alexander Isak, has left Slot with an unbalanced squad and restless stars.
Salah, for his part, remains defiant. On Instagram, he posted a cryptic message: “Storms pass. Focus on the horizon.” Sources claim he’s asked Slot for tactical adjustments to better support the right side. But as Rooney cautioned, time is running out — another poor performance, particularly in the upcoming Champions League clash with AC Milan on October 22, could see him temporarily benched.
For Liverpool, this is more than a form slump — it’s an identity crisis. Salah has defined the club’s modern era, from his humble beginnings in Cairo to Anfield superstardom. He’s overcome dips before — including a 2023–24 spell under Klopp when he was benched amid contract tensions before roaring back with 25 goals. Now, at 33, whispers of decline are growing louder. Yet, his performances for Egypt — four goals in recent World Cup qualifiers — show there’s still fire left. Slot’s challenge: reignite the king or risk fracturing the kingdom. As Rooney summed up, “He’s lost right now, but maybe being dropped wakes him up.” For Liverpool, the international break can’t come soon enough — salvation or further turmoil awaits
