Wayne Rooney has questioned the commitment of Arne Slot's Liverpool players following the club's elimination from the Champions League. The Reds succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at Anfield courtesy of an Ousmane Dembele double, crashing out 4-0 on aggregate. The result leaves Liverpool unable to claim silverware this season and scrambling to secure a berth in Europe's premier competition next term.

Slot's side currently occupy fifth position in the Premier League, which would guarantee Champions League qualification, and hold a four-point cushion over Chelsea, with Brentford and Everton a further point behind. Liverpool head into the Merseyside derby this weekend having suffered defeat in four of their previous five fixtures, although three of those losses came against PSG and Manchester City. Rooney remains unconvinced by the desire shown by the Reds' squad under Slot, and feels the encounter with the Toffees has arrived at an inopportune moment for the club.

"You need players who want to fight, and we've seen this Liverpool team all season not give as much as they can, I believe," Rooney said. "And I think this derby game on Sunday is coming at the wrong time for Liverpool."

Fellow pundit and former AC Milan star Clarence Seedorf takes a different view on the timing, however. "I would disagree," he said. "I think when we had moments of excellence as well in the Champions League, and you had a big team, a big game after, it would be so much easier to at least be emotionally involved in the right way. When you meet maybe a team mid-table after a defeat like this, I think it's so much harder.

"Of course you still need to do it, but mentally it was easier. I don't know about you, are you saying that you weren't motivated?"

Rooney replied: "I was very motivated, but I'm saying I think some of these players aren't." The Manchester United legend's claim should ring alarm bells for the club's owners Fenway Sports Group as they face another summer of mass change, potentially including a change of manager.

Speaking after the loss to PSG, Slot was questioned whether Liverpool could now only concentrate on securing fifth position in the Premier League. The Dutchman indicated the club faced a challenging situation going into next season.

"Of course," he said. "That is what we have to play for now in the coming weeks. The good thing is Alex (Isak) is back, well able to make minutes.

"Much has been said that the club is in a transition. The club has sold 8-10 players to make money to sign five or so very talented players.

"We have to sell to buy. We are losing some players on a free transfer.

"It is a big challenge in the summer but the club has shown this model works. As I said many times the future looks very good, especially if we can sign players after good players leaving this summer."