Mohamed Salah’s decision to criticise Liverpool’s direction under Arne Slot in a social media post on Saturday has placed the head coach in a difficult position ahead of the final Premier League match against Brentford. The forward’s comments, which echoed concerns among fans and players, have drawn support from several teammates including Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson, fuelling talk of a rift behind the scenes at Anfield.
Slot previously dropped Salah for the Champions League trip to Inter in December after an incendiary interview, but repeating that sanction now could risk inflaming tensions further. With Liverpool still needing to secure Champions League qualification, omitting a player of Salah’s calibre for disciplinary reasons would be a gamble the under-pressure coach can ill afford.
Liverpool’s form has crumbled in the second half of the season, with 19 defeats in all competitions and a club-record 52 goals conceded in the league. The 4-2 loss to Aston Villa on Friday laid bare the structural flaws Slot has been unable to fix, and the fanbase has grown restless after the team’s failure to challenge for the title.
Salah’s post did not mention Slot by name but referred to Jürgen Klopp and called for a return to “heavy metal” attacking football. The Egypt international is set to leave on a free transfer this summer, a decision Slot himself sanctioned despite Salah having a year left on his contract.
Should Manchester City beat Bournemouth on Tuesday, Liverpool’s top-five finish would be guaranteed, removing the jeopardy from the Brentford game. In that scenario, dropping Salah would serve only to antagonise supporters already critical of Slot’s style of play. The coach may have to grin and bear it, as he has done throughout a turbulent campaign.
