Winners of last year’s Premier League title have had an inconsistent form this season, having lost five out of nine games.
In their last match against Brentford, they suffered a 2-3 loss, prompting a reaction from former Man Utd forward and the club’s all-time leading goal scorer, Rooney.
Speaking in the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, the five-time Premier League winner said the body language of captain Virgil van Dijk and talismanic forward Mohamed Salah during Liverpool’s troubled spell was a “big concern”.
He believes that the duo have signed a contract extension with the club, but their posture this season does not reflect that of good leadership, one that is in charge, citing that as one of the reasons behind the team’s struggles.
“This is a time when the manager and the leaders in the team need to figure it out very quickly. Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah they’ve signed new deals, but I don’t think they’ve really led that team this season. I think body language tells you a lot, and I think we’re seeing slightly different body language from the two of them. They are the top two players in that team, and if their body language is not right, that affects everyone else,” he said.
On his part, the team is clearly having a hard time overcoming their struggles, as they never anticipated such results, which have now placed them seventh in the Premier League table. He has called on the leadership of Liverpool to treat the team’s current form with urgency.
The Reds have lost four consecutive Premier League matches and are now seven points behind leaders Arsenal.
“No one has seen this coming; it’s hit them quick, it’s hit them hard, and I think they’re struggling to find a way out of it,” he added.
“I might be wrong on this, but if I were a Liverpool fan or the manager, that would be a big concern for me.”
Meanwhile, Rooney has been quite vocal about Man Utd’s form. Man Utd have had a disappointing run since Amorim’s takeover from Eric ten Hag.
According to Rooney, he sees faith in Ruben Amorim to turn things around at Manchester United and believes the soul has gone from his former club.
“I just don’t know what’s going on. I have tried my hand at management, and it didn’t work out too well, so I get it. Ruben Amorim is my age, he’s still a young manager, and I’m sure he’s got a massive future, but what’s going on at Man Utd, this is not Man Utd. I honestly hope he can turn it around, and he does. But… after everything I’ve seen, honestly, I’ve got no faith in it,” he said on his BBC podcast.
However, Man Utd has won its last three matches. After their second win in a row, speaking during his post-match press conference, Amorim stated that,
“It’s everything combined for the fans if you ask them on two wins in a row after so many years, it is really important for me that it is back-to-back; it doesn’t matter about the opponent, it is just the feeling of winning.”
But he said his focus was to achieve a three-in-a-row win as Man Utd gear up for their Premier League Matchweek 9 match with Brighton on Saturday, 25 October at Old Trafford, 17:30 BST (16:30 UTC).
“The important thing is to think three in a row and that’s the focus”, Amorim said to the BBC after the game.”
Before this back-to-back win, Head coach Amorim had taken just 34 points from his 33 Premier League games in charge. But his record as of October 20 put him just a point above his previous.
Man Utd lost for the fourth game in a row in all competitions, but for Amorim, bagging two EPL wins in a row was an important mark chalked in his first full season at the club.
However, it appears Amorim’s tactics, which came under heavy criticism, are producing the results he anticipated they would.
Rooney’s former club are also enjoying a resurgence, with a 4-2 win over Brighton making it three on the trot and lifting them to sixth place, level on points with Manchester City and one clear of Liverpool.
Part of that success has been down to the form of forward Bryan Mbeumo, who has scored three of his five goals in the last two games.
Rooney admitted he was not convinced when United brought him to the club in the summer for £65m from Brentford, but said the 26-year-old Cameroon international is now living up to expectations.
“His energy, his work-rate, his desire, is what you need to be a United player. I did say that I was a little bit unsure, but I think what he’s shown is he belongs there,” added Rooney.
“He’s been consistent with his performances, I think that’s the main thing. If you’re consistently getting into the right positions and getting chances, you will score 20 goals a season.”
On September 14, Man Utd suffered an embarrassing defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. The Reds lost against their rivals in a 0-3 derby with a brace from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden.
Speaking in a post-match conference, Amorim addressed some mistakes made by his side, highlighting the confused state of the players at times. According to him, some goals could have been avoided, but he admits he made poor decisions during the game.
On his tactical philosophy, which has come under massive attack, particularly after the derby defeat against City, he reiterated that he will not change it. Some critics have slammed him for his 3-4-3 setup, which appears to be affecting players like Bruno Fernandes or Benjamin Šešk, given United’s current position on the league table.
“It’s not a record that you should have at Manchester United… But I’m not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man.”
