'No way I'd have him anywhere near the team' - Rooney

Former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney believes the fallout around Mohamed Salah's comments now risks unsettling Arne Slot's entire Liverpool squad.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain said new signings naturally look towards senior figures like Salah and Virgil van Dijk, and if Salah is openly unhappy, that energy seeps into the dressing room and affects the players Slot is trying to bed in.

Rooney suggested that Slot should show authority by pulling Salah out of the squad altogether, telling him to go and focus on competing in the Africa Cup of Nations for Egypt while the dust settles.

"I think of the impact this will have on the other players," said Rooney. "If you go and sign for Liverpool and you walk into the dressing room, Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk are the players you look at. If Mo is speaking that way, I would imagine he will be very quiet around the training ground, and that will bring a negative energy in itself to the new players Arne has bedded in.

"For me, he has either got to speak to the manager, come out and put something out and try and put it right, or he has to leave the football club. It needs to be sorted out quickly from either side.

"I think Arne Slot tomorrow has to show his authority and just pull him in and say, 'listen, you are not travelling with the team, what you said is not acceptable. Take yourself off to AFCON and let everything calm down'.

"I think Arne Slot can take full control of it tomorrow. If Slot keeps him in the squad, I think there will be questions. If I was Arne Slot tomorrow, there's no way I'd have him anywhere near the team."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds