Mohamed Salah has launched another withering critique of Liverpool, the club he is set to depart after next weekend, following a 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa on Friday. The Egyptian forward, who came on as a late substitute in the 74th minute, took to social media on Saturday to express his frustration, with comments widely seen as directed at manager Arne Slot and the club's hierarchy.
Salah's Social Media Outburst
In a lengthy post on his social media accounts, Salah did not hold back. He referenced the club's decline and called for a return to the 'heavy metal' attacking football that characterized Liverpool under former manager Jürgen Klopp. "I have witnessed this club go from doubters to believers, and from believers to champions," Salah wrote. "It took hard work and I always did everything I could to help the club get there. Nothing makes me prouder than that."
He continued: "Us crumbling to yet another defeat this season was very painful and not what our fans deserve. I want to see Liverpool go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear and back to being a team that wins trophies. That is the football I know how to play and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good. It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it."
Implications for Arne Slot
Salah's comments are widely seen as a direct criticism of Slot, with whom he has had a mixed relationship this season. The defeat at Villa Park cast doubt on Liverpool's participation in next season's Champions League, with the team currently fifth in the Premier League. Slot himself faced criticism from away fans after the match, acknowledging their lack of confidence but urging patience. "I can understand that, at this moment in time, [the fans] don't have a lot of confidence or a lot of feeling that things can be much better next season," Slot said. "But I think then they are underestimating what a window can do, what a new start can do."
Despite the mounting pressure, the expectation is that Liverpool's executives will stick with Slot. Alternative candidates, such as former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso, are reportedly close to joining other clubs, with Alonso rumored to be on the verge of becoming Chelsea's new manager.
Salah's Farewell Looming
Next weekend, Liverpool face Brentford at Anfield in a game that could decide their Champions League fate. The match is also expected to serve as a send-off for Salah, who announced his departure from the club in March, tearing up a two-year extension signed last May. Salah has scored 257 goals for Liverpool, including 191 in the Premier League, making him one of the club's greatest ever players.
In his social media post, Salah also appeared to aim criticism at the club's hierarchy, including sporting director Richard Hughes and chief executive of football Michael Edwards. "Winning some games here and there is not what Liverpool should be about," Salah wrote. "All teams win games. Liverpool will always be a club that means a great deal to me and to my family. I want to see it succeed for long after I have moved on. As I've always said, qualifying to next season's Champions League is the bare minimum and I will do everything I can to make that happen."
Player Support for Salah
Salah's post received widespread support from his Liverpool teammates. Curtis Jones added an applause emoji, while other players who liked or commented included Dominik Szoboszlai, Andy Robertson, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Wataru Endo, Giovanni Leoni, and Harvey Elliott. In a separate post, Jones wrote: "Thank you for your continued support in a disappointing season. It's way off the standards expected at this football club."
The defeat at Aston Villa was Liverpool's latest setback in a season that has fallen well short of expectations. Salah's comments have intensified scrutiny on Slot and the club's direction, as fans and pundits alike question whether the team can recover its former glory.
