Van Dijk and Alisson must warn Liverpool’s £34m talent to stop being lazy, claims Wayne Rooney

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Liverpool have now suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League, and Wayne Rooney has just slammed the work rate of one star in particular.

Arne Slot’s team were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea, which saw them knocked off top spot in the Premier League heading into the international break.

Liverpool conceded a stoppage time for the second week running to end up losing, and this will be a key concern for the coaching staff.

Following the latest defeat at Stamford Bridge, Wayne Rooney has urged Liverpool’s leaders to call into question one of the team’s top players.

Wayne Rooney slams Mohamed Salah’s work ethic

Rooney has questioned Mohamed Salah’s work ethic following Liverpool’s shock 2-1 defeat away at Chelsea on Saturday.

Salah’s form has dipped significantly this season, with the Reds’ forward having now gone four games without a goal and several poor performances.

The former Manchester United man told The Wayne Rooney Show: “I think the last week has shown something, when it’s gone well, you’re scoring goals and you’re winning games, I think it’s great and the team will put up with that. But I think over the last week, I have to question his work ethic.

“I think we know he doesn’t always get back and defend as much, but I think last night, the Chelsea game, I thought his full-back was getting torn apart, and he’s just watching and not getting back, he’s not helping him.

“I think players like Van Dijk and Alisson, the leaders in that dressing room, should be telling him, ‘you need to help out’. For me, that was a worry, and I think he’s looked a little bit lost over the last week, in my opinion.”

Daniel Sturridge suggests Salah needs to build chemistry with his new teammates, especially with the likes of Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.

Wayne Rooney on Liverpool’s new signings

Rooney has offered up an interesting suggestion that Liverpool’s new players are not yet used to the expectation of having to win every game at the club.

“I think when you bring so many new players in and the amount of times you hear people talk about the mentality of a player, I think it’s really important. Liverpool is a massive club and you’re expected to win every game,” Rooney added.

“I remember when I went from Everton to Man United. If we won two games in a row at Everton, you’d go, ‘Ok, we can lose the next game, it doesn’t really matter,’ it takes that bit of pressure off.

“But when you go to a big club and you’re trying to win things, you have to win every game, you have to have that mindset of winning every game and some of the players who Liverpool have bought in, I think they need to get used to that.”

Salah, who cost Liverpool £34m, will be eager to recapture his form soon, with Arsenal starting to hit top form.