Wayne Rooney has questioned the motivation of some of Arne Slot's Liverpool players following the club's exit from the Champions League. The Reds fell to a 2-0 defeat at Anfield following a brace from Ousmane Dembele, to crash out 4-0 on aggregate.
It leaves Liverpool unable to win a trophy this season and battling to secure a place in Europe's top competition next term. Slot's side currently sit in fifth spot, which will see them qualify for the Champions League, and are four points ahead of Chelsea, and five points ahead of Brentford and Everton.
Liverpool go into the Merseyside derby this weekend having lost four of the last five matches, though three have come against PSG and Manchester City. Rooney is unconvinced by the motivation of the Reds' players under Slot, and believes the clash with the Toffees has come at the wrong time 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 believes the timing could help, 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.
Speaking following the defeat to PSG, Slot was asked if Liverpool could now only focus are securing fifth place in the Premier League. The Dutchman suggested the club were in a tough position heading 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."
