Arne Slot has declined to say whether Mohamed Salah will be involved in Liverpool’s final home match of the season against Brentford at Anfield on Sunday, a game that could also mark the forward’s last appearance for the club. Salah, 33, is set to leave Liverpool this summer after nine years at Anfield, and his future has become a major talking point after he publicly questioned the team’s style of play in a social media post last weekend.
The post was widely interpreted as criticism of Slot’s approach, adding to a tense situation that already included an earlier fallout this season. Salah was omitted from the squad for Liverpool’s Champions League trip to Inter Milan after previously saying in an interview that his relationship with Slot had broken down. Slot has now brushed aside questions about his feelings over the comments, saying the only priority is ensuring Liverpool secure Champions League qualification on Sunday.
Liverpool need at least a point against Brentford to confirm a place in next season’s Champions League, and Slot said his focus is on preparing both Salah and the rest of the squad for a decisive match. He described the loss to Aston Villa as a major disappointment because victory would already have secured qualification, but stressed that one crucial game remains for the club.
Slot also said he and Salah share the same goal of helping Liverpool succeed. He acknowledged that the club must continue to evolve in the summer and into next season in order to compete for trophies again. While he said he wants the team to play a style he likes, he added that the fans would enjoy it too if the team performs well and is successful. Slot suggested Liverpool must find a way to balance competitiveness with an attractive brand of football.
When pressed on whether Salah’s remarks undermined his authority, Slot rejected that interpretation and said there were too many assumptions being made about the situation. He argued that Salah appeared to have been pleased with Liverpool’s style last season, when the club won the Premier League title, and said the wider context is that football has changed and evolved. Slot pointed out that both he and Salah were part of the squad that brought the league title back to Anfield after five years and said the aim now is to challenge for trophies again.
Slot was also asked about other Liverpool players interacting with Salah’s social media post. He said he is not heavily involved in social media and does not know exactly what liking a post signifies. What matters to him, he said, is how the players train, and he has not seen anything unusual from the squad compared with the rest of the season.
The situation leaves uncertainty over Salah’s role on Sunday as Liverpool chase Champions League football and prepare for a summer in which the club may undergo significant changes.
