Peter Crouch believes Arne Slot will feel disrespected by Mohamed Salah's recent social media post, but the former Liverpool striker says the Reds boss is unlikely to drop the Egyptian for the final Premier League match against Brentford.
Salah is expected to make his 442nd and final appearance for Liverpool on Sunday, with the club needing at least a draw to secure Champions League football. However, his involvement has been called into question after he posted a statement criticising the team's direction following a 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa.
Crouch, speaking to Paddy Power, suggested Slot would have been furious privately but said dropping Salah would be a massive decision. "If I'm Arne Slot, I'd have a serious word with him. I don't know if I could start him. I'd be angry at the comments for sure," Crouch said.
The former England international acknowledged Salah's stature at the club, comparing him to legends like Gerrard, Souness, Hansen and Dalglish. "To drop him for the last game would be an unbelievably big call," he added, noting that fan and club expectation points to Salah starting.
Crouch also highlighted the balance of power, suggesting Salah currently has more backing than Slot despite the manager's Premier League title win in his first season. "Deep down Arne Slot will feel disrespected ... but this is where the conversation comes in about whether the player is bigger than the manager," he concluded.
