Salah’s Liverpool Chapter in Question: Rooney Bets on the End, Backed by AFCON Form
2 February 2026
Rooney’s Take on Salah’s Form
Is the Egyptian star’s Liverpool era ending? Wayne Rooney, the Manchester United legend, believes Mohamed Salah’s peak years at Liverpool may be fading this season due to a dip in his goal-scoring.
Salah has been Liverpool’s lucky charm for nearly a decade, ranking third on the club’s all-time scoring list with 251 goals.
Context and Evidence: AFCON and a November Benching
He didn’t show signs of decline during Liverpool’s title-winning run last season. After signing a new two-year contract with the winger last April, Salah reportedly saw a sharper drop in form, which led manager Arne Slot to drop him from the starting XI in November.
Rooney remains convinced Salah, now 33, has moved past his prime.
On The Wayne Rooney Show, when asked whether Salah’s era had ended, he said: "I think it will end by the end of the season."
He added: "He’s an incredible player for the Premier League and Liverpool. I just think his physical condition has declined a little." He also cited AFCON and noted Salah isn’t moving with his usual pace and grace; it isn’t entirely his fault. It’s natural for players to decline, and you may have seen the end since last summer. It’s obvious to everyone, and the same happened with Virgil van Dijk at the start of the season, a level that didn’t persist this year."
He continued: "I think it’s clear to all of us. I may be wrong, but that’s my read on Salah’s trajectory this season."
End of an era or just a dip? Rooney’s take remains provocative, inviting debate among fans who’ve watched Salah light up the living room lights for nearly a decade.
Punchline 1: If Salah’s pace drops any further, defenders will need a passport just to chase him—flight mode activated, even when the sun is out.
Punchline 2: Salah’s prime might be on sabbatical, but the meme potential of his AFCON return could power a whole season’s highlight reel without lifting a boot.
