Wayne Rooney slams Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah for Liverpool issue that 'tells you a lot'

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Wayne Rooney has slammed Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah for not leading the club amid their current crisis. The reigning Premier League champions have struggled this season having lost five out of their last six games in all competitions.

The weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Brentford leaves Liverpool sitting seventh in the Premier League and already seven points behind current leaders Arsenal . Manchester United icon Rooney has attempted to find a reason behind the Reds’ slump and the former striker has blamed Van Dijk and Salah for failing to step up to the plate.

Speaking on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney podcast , he said: “This can happen to teams and it can get them and it will creep up and then all of a sudden you’re like ‘where did that come from?’.

“You’re probably sitting here thinking three or four weeks ago, no one saw this coming. And it’s hit them quick, it’s hit them hard and they’re struggling to find a way out of it.

“This is the time where the manager, the leaders in the team need to figure it out very quickly. I’m a bit unsure. Van Dijk and Salah have signed new deals and whatever but I don’t think they’ve really led that team this season.”

Asked why he thinks that, Rooney added: “Just performances and body language. I think body language tells you a lot. I think we’re seeing a slightly different body language from the two of them. They are the top two players in that side and if their body language isn’t right, that affects everyone else.

“Liverpool are in a bad place at the minute and when that happens, I can’t explain it. It’s so difficult, you don’t know how to get out of it.

“You concede a goal and straight away you’re thinking ‘here we go again’. It’s such a hard thing to get out of.

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“Best thing is to simplify things for each player and the manager. Simplify the performances with what you’re doing.

"Normally, if you’ve got better players, you win the game but it’s not that easy.”

Liverpool will be aiming to get back on track over the coming week. Arne Slot ’s side take on Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup before they welcome Unai Emery ’s Aston Villa to Merseyside at the weekend.