EPL: Age Has Caught Up With Salah — Rooney
Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah talks to Liverpool's French striker #22 Hugo Ekitike during a team training session at their training ground in Kirkby, Liverpool, north-west England on January 20, 2026, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League, league phase football match against Olympique Marseille in Marseille. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
Former England captain Wayne Rooney has suggested that age may be beginning to affect the performance levels of Mohamed Salah, drawing comparisons with his own late-career experience.
Speaking in a recent interview, Rooney said the Liverpool FC forward appears to be experiencing a natural dip that often comes with years at the top level of the game. He noted that even the most consistent players eventually face physical and mental challenges that impact their output.
Rooney, who spent the majority of his career at Manchester United, reflected on his own struggles with maintaining peak performance as he got older. According to him, the demands of elite football make it difficult to sustain the same intensity over time.
“Salah has been incredible for years, but there comes a point when it gets harder to keep those levels week in, week out,” Rooney said, emphasizing that such phases are part of a player’s career cycle.
Despite the comments, Salah remains one of Liverpool’s most influential players, with his experience and leadership continuing to play a vital role for the club. Analysts, however, are divided on whether the perceived dip is temporary or a sign of gradual decline.
The remarks have sparked debate among fans and pundits, with many pointing out that Salah has consistently delivered for Liverpool and remains a key figure in the squad, even as he navigates the later stages of his career.
