Wayne Rooney believes Arne Slot is effectively “on an audition” to save his Anfield career, despite leading Liverpool to the Premier League title less than a year ago.
The former Manchester United and Everton striker insists that the Dutchman lacks the “aura” required to lead the Reds long-term, suggesting that a failure to secure a top-five finish will result in his dismissal this summer.
Speaking on The Overlap, Rooney pointed to the impossible task of following Jurgen Klopp, claiming that while Slot is a meticulous coach, he has yet to command the same presence as his predecessor.
The Dutchman has been under severe pressure from outsiders as his team stutter through a disappointing title defence. He has so far retained the backing of Liverpool’s owners.
There have been huge question marks around the future of the Reds head coach this season. However, he’s been able to cling onto his job and is now targeting silverware and Champions League qualification.
Wayne Rooney on lack of ‘aura’
Speaking on The Overlap’s Fan Debate show this week, Manchester United icon Rooney called into question whether Slot is the right fit for Liverpool.
After listening to suggestions that the Premier League winner could lose his job, however, Rooney replied: “It’s strange when you’re talking about Slot being on an audition to keep his job when he has obviously recently won the Premier League.”
Liverpool’s statistics in all competitions (2025/26):
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Status |
| Premier League | 26 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 41 | 35 | +6 | 6th Place |
| Champions League | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 12 | +4 | Round of 16 |
| FA Cup | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 5th Round |
| EFL Cup | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | Knocked Out |
| Community Shield | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Runners-up* |
| Total | 39 | 20 | 7 | 12 | 68 | 54 | +14 | |
| *Lost to Crystal Palace on penalties. |
While he isn’t in the camp that believes a title-winning manager should be sacked without a grace period, Rooney did claim Slot falls short of Jurgen Klopp personality-wise.
“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,” he stated.
Rooney admitted the former Liverpool boss set an extremely high standard: “It’s difficult for anyone to do that but I just don’t think there is that aura about him.”
Slot risks being sacked if he doesn’t reach targets
Rooney, like many fans, is of the opinion that Slot’s mission is simple if he wants to keep his job. Finish in the top five, and qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The striker-turned-pundit claimed: “If he doesn’t get them top five in the Premier League, he will be gone, for sure. It’s crazy to say when he has just won the Premier League.”
As things stand, it looks to be a three-horse race between Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea for two places in the top five. Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa appear nailed on for Europe’s elite competition.
The Reds sit just below their closest rivals in sixth place in the Premier League table with 42 points from 26 matches. A trip to Nottingham Forest presents a difficult task for the reigning champions.
Reasons behind the struggles this season
Rooney did show some sympathy towards Slot’s difficult campaign. Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk haven’t been at their best and there were huge changes in the summer.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez all played significant minutes in Slot’s debut term. All three were moved on to new clubs while veteran Andy Robertson has been dropped from the starting XI.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez’s statistics (2025/26):
| Player | Club | Apps | Goals | Assists | Yellow/Red |
| Luis Díaz | Bayern Munich | 32 | 19 | 11 | 6 / 1 |
| Darwin Núñez | Al-Hilal | 24 | 9 | 5 | 2 / 0 |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | Real Madrid | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 / 0 |
Rooney pointed out the challenges the manager has faced, saying: “If you look at Liverpool last season to now, Salah and [Virgil] van Dijk haven’t been their best.
“Then you’ve got Trent [Alexander-Arnold] who’s missing, [Andy] Robertson hasn’t played a lot of games, Luis Diaz [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 sort of a rebuild period [for them].”
Slot has already hit back at the external noise, reminding critics that Klopp himself remained in the post after finishing fifth in 2023.
However, with Liverpool currently trailing Manchester United and Chelsea in a frantic race for Europe, Rooney’s “bleak” prediction highlights the mounting pressure on the AXA Training Centre as a season-defining March looms.
