Rooney pins the blame on Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah for Liverpool's slump

Wayne Rooney has questioned Liverpool's leadership, warning that the attitude of senior figures Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah is now a 'big concern'.

Speaking after the champions' fourth straight league defeat, the Manchester United legend argued that the pair's body language tells its own story as Arne Slot's side continue to slide.

Liverpool were beaten 3-2 by Brentford on Saturday, leaving them seventh in the Premier League table and seven points adrift of leaders Arsenal after nine games.

Rooney believes the reaction of Liverpool's biggest names has been troubling during the slump.

'No-one has seen this coming, it's hit them quick, it's hit them hard and I think they're struggling to find a way out of it,' he said on the Wayne Rooney Show.

'This is a time where the manager and the leaders in the team need to figure it out very quickly. Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, they've signed new deals but I don't think they've really led that team this season.

'I think body language tells you a lot, and I think we're seeing slightly different body language from the two of them. They are the top two players in that team and if their body language is not right, that affects everyone else.

'I might be wrong on this, but if I was a Liverpool fan or the manager, that would be a big concern for me.'

Both Van Dijk and Salah signed lucrative contract extensions last summer following Liverpool's title triumph, underlining their status as Slot's cornerstone players.

Yet their form has mirrored the team's wider dip, with Liverpool shipping nine goals in four matches and already matching their total of league defeats from last season.

Rooney's remarks come as pressure intensifies on Slot to arrest a slide that pundits have described as a full-blown crisis.

Jamie Carragher said after the Brentford defeat that Liverpool are 'in crisis time', warning that the champions lack the physical edge that underpinned their dominance.

Gary Neville, speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, argued that Slot must act quickly to steady the defence, saying 'the virus is catching' within the team.

He called for summer signing Milos Kerkez to be dropped and urged Liverpool to 'build a foundation off the back'.

Slot admitted the Brentford performance was 'the worst of his tenure', conceding that opponents have 'found a very good strategy' to play against his side.

The Dutchman said Liverpool have 'no answer' to the physical, direct approach that has exposed their back line.

Salah's late goal on Saturday ended a six-match drought, but he remains short of his usual standards. Van Dijk, meanwhile, has struggled to replicate the consistency that defined last season's title charge.

Liverpool continue their Carabao Cup campaign against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday before league fixtures against Aston Villa and Manchester City.