Wayne Rooney has criticised Liverpool players after their Champions League elimination by PSG, claiming some aren't motivated under Arne Slot ahead of the Merseyside derby
Wayne Rooney has cast doubt on the commitment of some of Arne Slot's Liverpool players following the club's elimination from the Champions League. The Reds succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at Anfield courtesy of an Ousmane Dembele double, to bow out 4-0 on aggregate.
It means Liverpool cannot lift silverware this season and are scrapping to seal a spot in Europe's premier competition next term. Slot's team presently occupy fifth position, which would guarantee Champions League qualification, and hold a four-point cushion over Chelsea, and a five-point advantage over Brentford and Everton.
Liverpool head into the Merseyside derby this weekend having suffered four defeats in their last five outings, though three have arrived against PSG and Manchester City. Rooney remains sceptical about the desire of the Reds' squad under Slot, and reckons the fixture against the Toffees has arrived at an inopportune moment for the club.
"You need players who want to fight, and we've seen this Liverpool team all season not give as much as they can, I believe," Rooney said. "And I think this derby game on Sunday is coming at the wrong time for Liverpool."
Fellow pundit, former AC Milan star Clarence Seedorf reckons the timing could prove beneficial, however. "I would disagree," he said.
"I think when we had moments of excellence as well in the Champions League, and you had a big team, a big game after, it would be so much easier to at least be emotionally involved in the right way. When you meet maybe a team mid-table after a defeat like this, I think it's so much harder.
"Of course you still need to do it, but mentally it was easier. I don't know about you, are you saying that you weren't motivated?
"I was very motivated, but I'm saying I think some of these players aren't," Rooney retorted.
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Following the defeat to PSG, Slot was quizzed on whether Liverpool could now focus on a fifth-place finish in the Premier League. The Dutchman acknowledged the club faced a difficult road ahead going into next season.
"Of course," he said. "That is what we have to play for now in the coming weeks. The good thing is Alex (Isak) is back, well able to make minutes.
"Much has been said that the club is in a transition. The club has sold 8-10 players to make money to sign five or so very talented players.
"We have to sell to buy. We are losing some players on a free transfer.
"It is a big challenge in the summer but the club has shown this model works. As I said many times the future looks very good, especially if we can sign players after good players leaving this summer."