Rooney Questions Slot's 'Aura' for Long-Term Liverpool Role Amid Sack Speculation

Wayne Rooney has questioned whether Arne Slot possesses the necessary gravitas to establish himself as Liverpool's manager for the long haul, even after steering the club to Premier League glory in his debut season.

The Reds' remarkable turnaround in 2024/25 has given way to a far more troubled 2025/26 campaign. Currently sitting sixth in the table, Liverpool find themselves three points adrift of Manchester United in fourth and a concerning 15 points behind Arsenal at the summit. With just 12 matches remaining, Champions League qualification is far from guaranteed.

Whispers of potential managerial change have surfaced, with reports suggesting the Liverpool board may consider their options come season's end rather than make a mid-campaign switch.

Speaking on The Overlap, Rooney acknowledged the peculiar nature of Slot's predicament. "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," the Manchester United legend reflected.

However, Rooney was candid about what he perceives as a shortcoming. "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."

The challenge facing Slot is stark: failure to secure a top-five finish would almost certainly seal his fate at Anfield. "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," Rooney insisted. "It's crazy to say when he has just won the Premier League."

So what has derailed Liverpool's title defence? Rooney pointed to a combination of departures and declining performances from key personnel. "If you look at Liverpool last season to now, Salah and Van Dijk haven't been their best. Then you've got Trent who's missing, Robertson hasn't played a lot of games, Luiz Díaz 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's a rebuild period for them."

Yet Rooney was keen to defend Liverpool's talismanic pair from mounting criticism. While both have lost a step this season, the former United striker argues context matters. "With Liverpool and what has happened since last season, Van Dijk and Salah – which I have been vocal about this season – may have lost a yard or two, and 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."

He continued: "That should not count against Van Dijk and Salah. 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, so you cannot hold that against those two players."

A marked shift from Rooney's earlier stance, where he had been notably critical of Van Dijk's application.