WAYNE ROONEY unleashed his inner Roy Keane as he launched an angry rant over Liverpool’s reaction to their Everton defeat.
The former Toffees, Manchester United and England striker was in the Sky Sports studio for last night’s Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park.
Rooney watched with amazement as his old side virtually secured their top-flight status with a thrilling 2-0 win over Liverpool.
Everton’s amazing result also put a huge dent in their neighbours’ title ambitions, with the Reds now three points off leaders Arsenal and just one ahead of Man City — who had TWO games in hand.
After the final whistle, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk chastised his team-mates for “not wanting” to win the Premier League.
He also moaned about his side’s upcoming 12.30pm kick-off against West Ham on Saturday.
Van Dijk said: “Do they really want to win the league?
“If you play like this overall in the game and not win any challenges and give the referee an opportunity to give a free-kick away then we have no chance to win the title.
“Very disappointed in so many ways. Everyone has to look in the mirror and look at their own performance and think if they gave everything.
“It is a tough one and obviously we have to do better against a side near the relegation [positions] it is time to focus.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER
“If you play like today we have no chance to consider ourselves in the title race.
“It’s time to focus on the 12:30 kick-off again. These games are always a big fight and something that we shouldn’t have lost in my opinion, but we did.
“Now we have to pick ourselves up and be ready for an early kick-off Saturday.”
But Rooney, who moved into management after retiring in 2021, wasn’t having any of it as he tapped into his inner Keane.
The Irishman is famous for his no-nonsense approach when in the studio.
And Wazza delivered a tirade against Van Dijk’s comments that even Keane would have been proud of.
Rooney, who’s been out of working since being axed by Birmingham in January, blasted: “He’s the captain and he’s talking about Liverpool getting outfought but again we’re hearing about 12:30 kick-offs after he’s just lost a derby.
“That Liverpool team should be wanting to be on the pitch tomorrow morning to get the next game going.
“When you lose a game, especially a derby game, you want the next game to come quick.
“We’ve heard it so many times this season with Liverpool about 12:30 kick-offs.
“Get on with it! That’s part of your job! Get on with it and you should be ready to play.”
Rooney also suggested that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made a grave error when he announced his summer exit earlier in the season.
Rooney continued: “Do you not question the timing of it getting released that Klopp’s leaving the club?
“Because over the last few weeks or the last couple of months, everyone’s saying ‘fairytale ending’ – all stuff like that.
“But the minute it goes wrong, I think you have to look at that timing. I think with Nunez, maybe with Salah, van Dijk as well.
“These players are looking — Klopp’s so popular, even as an Everton fan I really like Jurgen Klopp.
“With him leaving the club, in their heads they’ll be thinking ‘what does my future hold? Am I still gonna be a Liverpool player? Do I still want to be a Liverpool player?’
“I think that’s something you can look at.”
Playing career:
Managerial career:
