Wayne Rooney claims Mo Salah's legs have gone... and same is happening to Virgil van Dijk

 Wayne Rooney thinks that Mohamed Salah's legs have already gone and has warned that Virgil van Dijk faces the same fate. Salah is set to leave Liverpool this summer following a glittering spell at Anfield.

He will leave the club off the back of his most difficult campaign on Merseyside, having scored just seven Premier League goals this term, while his role in the side hasn’t always been assured under Arne Slot.

And Rooney believes age has finally caught up with the 33-year-old and believes that his Liverpool skipper is going the same way. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the Manchester United icon said: "I said this since the start of the season, age gets to us all and your legs go.

"I think that's happened to Salah this season and Virgil van Dijk hasn't been the same this season. They are the leaders in the dressing room. It's hard for the other players to go and leave their mark or become the leaders.

"I don't think he [Van Dijk] will [leave] but you've seen players when they've stayed there for too long."

He added: "The hardest thing for a player is to understand you may be not at the level you were. I did it at Manchester United when Zlatan Ibrahimovic came in and I wasn't playing. I wanted to play so I left straight away. I accepted it."

Unlike Salah, Van Dijk will remain at Liverpool for the time being. The Dutch defender remains under contract with the Reds until next summer having signed an extension only last year.

Salah’s Liverpool farewell has hit a major speed bump, with the Egyptian set to miss his final Premier League match against Manchester United this Sunday. The forward was withdrawn last weekend against Crystal Palace with a hamstring injury.

And while Liverpool boss Arne Slot has ruled him out of this weekend’s game, the Dutchman is hopeful that he will return before the end of the season.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Slot said: “As we know for Mo, he is always working hard when he is fit and when he is injured to be back. He is usually fitter than others, so we expect him back for the final part of the season.

“Not for tomorrow. It is always a big relief that his injury is minor to play for us and the World Cup. Any time a player who deserved a send-off, it's great news."