Wayne Rooney makes bizarre Liverpool 'aura' claim and delivers Arne Slot sack verdict - 'he will be gone'

Rooney

Wayne Rooney has claimed Arne Slot doesn't have the aura to be Liverpool head coach and will be sacked if he fails to secure Champions League qualification

Slot became the 10th and most recent boss to guide the Reds to the championship when his side romped to a record-equalling 20th title for the Anfield outfit last term during his first season in charge.

Slot became the 10th and most recent boss to guide the Reds to the championship when his side romped to a record-equalling 20th title for the Anfield outfit last term during his first season in charge.

The present campaign, though, has been more difficult with Liverpool having struggled to adapt to a host of new signings, a number of key injuries and the tragic death of Diogo Jota last summer.

They currently stand in sixth place in the Premier League table but have lost only two of their last 19 games in all competitions while progressing to the last 16 of the Champions League and FA Cup.

But Rooney believes Slot doesn't have the right vibe to be Liverpool boss despite his title triumph and that silverware won't spare him the sack if the Reds don't improve on their current top-flight standing.

Rooney

"It’s strange isn’t it when you’re talking about Slot being on an audition to keep his job when he has obviously recently won the Premier League,"

“I have met him a couple of times, but I just don’t think, for Liverpool, he has that aura – and maybe that’s because Liverpool have just come off the back of Jurgen Klopp as manager – it’s difficult for anyone to do that but I just don’t think there is that aura about him.

“I have spoken to managers, and I know they can be difficult at times, but if he doesn’t get them top five in the Premier League, he will be gone, for sure. It’s crazy to say when he has just won the Premier League."

Rooney also dismissed suggestions Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah should shoulder the blame for Liverpool's shortcomings this season

Rooney

"Van Dijk and Salah – which I have been vocal about this season – may have lost a yard or two, (but) they are the two leaders of the team,"

"The players they have lost around them would make it very difficult for any side to win the title. That should not count against van Dijk and Salah.

"You’ve got Trent (Alexander-Arnold) who’s missing, (Andy) Robertson hasn’t played a lot of games, Luiz Diaz (left) and the Jota situation.

“Even Darwin Nunez brought something, he wasn’t great, but he brought something. Liverpool have lost a lot of players so it is sort of a rebuild period.”

“For me, Salah is one of the Premier League’s greatest of all time, and Van Dijk will be in the conversation as one of the best. I don’t think he is the best ever, but in this generation, he is certainly the best centre-back."

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