Liverpool’s season keeps getting more dramatic than a penalty shootout—and Wayne Rooney just added more fire to the flames. After the Reds’ shocking 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, Rooney didn’t hold back. He slammed Liverpool’s leaders for letting standards drop, warning that the reigning Premier League champions could find themselves spiraling down the table… just like Manchester United did.
Rooney was brutally honest on Match of the Day:
“Throughout the season, it’s those leaders in that dressing room that have to pick the players up.”
And he didn’t stop there. Rooney compared Liverpool’s current path to the downfall of United and Tottenham—teams that went from top-six royalty to mid-table wanderers. Painful, but fair.
Six defeats in their last seven league games
Eight points behind Arsenal (and could stretch to 11)
Same number of losses as newly-promoted Leeds
Massive dip in quality compared to their 2020 title-winning season
Injuries, instability, and the weight of expectations have made things tougher. Even new boss Arne Slot admitted the defeat was “another big disappointment.”
Slot said the team started well but fell apart after conceding. He tried tweaks, adjustments, and tactical changes—but nothing clicked. A team that once terrified defenses is now struggling to even score.
At this rate, Liverpool are one bad run away from sitting at the same table Man Utd and Spurs visited when everything fell apart.
From a business and marketing point of view, Liverpool’s slump is a massive talking point:
Fan morale is dropping
Brand power dips when results dip
Rival clubs are eating up the spotlight
Sponsorship visibility shifts toward more consistent teams
For the sports market, momentum is everything. And right now, Liverpool’s momentum is going backwards.
Liverpool must rediscover their identity—fast. The leaders Rooney called out need to step up, rally the squad, and stop the slide before the Reds become the next big-club cautionary tale.
Because if there’s anything the sports marketplace teaches us, it’s this:
Performance drives perception. And perception drives everything.
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