Wayne Rooney has weighed in on a tactical tweak implemented by Arne Slot earlier this week, claiming Ruben Amorim would be chastised for doing the same.
In hopes of swiftly bouncing back from last weekend’s 2-1 Premier League defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace, Slot headed to Istanbul to face Galatasaray with some peculiar tricks up his sleeve.
The controversial changes Slot made vs Galatasaray
When naming his Liverpool starting XI for the Champions League encounter, midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was deployed at right-back whilst full-back Jeremie Frimpong occupied a new position on the wing.
The former would go on to eventually concede the penalty that gifted Galatasaray their advantage in front of an atmospheric Rams Park crowd – a lead they were able to hold on to for the duration of the tie.
While Slot undoubtedly has ample credit in the bank after guiding Liverpool to their second Premier League title in his maiden campaign, the side’s performances since 2025/2026 got underway may have perhaps been ringing some alarm bells.
Rooney weighs in
Reacting to the European affair on his podcast with BBC Sport, Rooney said: “When you win the league, like Slot did there last season with Liverpool, sometimes some of the decisions you make get overlooked.
“His decision to play a midfield player at right-back and a right-back at right-wing. If that were Amorim at Manchester United, he would get absolutely slaughtered.”
Relying on last-gasp goals might be exhilarating for supporters, but pundits have questioned whether it can be sustainable long-term.
Their equaliser at Selhurst Park on Saturday came in the 87th minute, leaving supporters hopeful that a point had been rescued from the gritty contest. That was until Eddie Nketiah’s 97th-minute finish restored Palace’s, ensuring their unbeaten streak was extended to a hugely impressive 18 games.
