Dejan Lovren has added fuel to the fire regarding Mohamed Salah and Arne Slot‘s relationship, saying his friend would have stayed at Liverpool had he known the Dutchman to be leaving.
It was a tumultuous final season at Anfield for both Salah and Slot, both of whom have departed for pastures new.
Salah openly called out his head coach during the campaign, saying he didn’t have a relationship with him, prior to another subtle dig in the spring.
Speaking to Winwin, Lovren claimed that his ex-teammate would have stayed if Slot had been sacked sooner.
File photo dated 01-12-2024 of Arne Slot with Mohamed Salah. Arne Slot feels Liverpool have ìmoved onî from the Mohamed Salah controversy and hopes the playerís Africa Cup of Nations involvement takes further heat out of the situation. Issue date: Friday December 19, 2025.
“Yeah, 100 percent was going to stay,” Lovren said.
“Believe me, it would’ve been 100 percent. I know it, but the timing was bad. Only an idiot would say we don’t need him anymore.
“I mean, you say you don’t need Mohamed Salah at Liverpool when he can still perform for another two or three years at the highest level, then we have trouble understanding football.”
Mo Salah & Arne Slot “didn’t have a good relationship”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is greeted by head coach Arne Slot (R) as he is substituted off during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Lovren also didn’t hold back regarding Salah and Slot’s relationship, making it clear that there were issues there.
“I don’t think it’s management, I think it’s just one person, and I think it’s just the coach,” he added.
“They didn’t have a good relationship, let’s just say it as it is, with Klopp he had a really beautiful relationship.
“They weren’t always perfect, but they knew each other well, let’s say that too, they trusted each other, they loved each other, they did everything on the pitch for Klopp, and Klopp gave him confidence, but (with Slot) everything was the opposite.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah greets Liverpool manager Arne Slot as he is substituted off during the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen, second leg match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture date: Wednesday March 18, 2026.
“It’s that simple, and everyone knows that because when you look at the previous eight or nine seasons, they’ve done really well.
“Then in the last season…now people will say, ‘oh yes, but he also did well in the first year that Slot came in,’ but I don’t think it was because I think he just took the team the way it was, as the team was already.
“So, as I said, it’s sad, in my opinion, that Mo leaves like this. I never expected that. Especially since he had another year.”
Was Mo Salah & Arne Slot’s relationship key to Liverpool’s struggles?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is greeted by head coach Arne Slot (R) as he is substituted off during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
There were so many reasons for Liverpool’s woes in 2025/26, from new signings not bedding in to the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
But the manner in which Salah and Slot’s relationship seemingly fell apart can’t have helped, with the Reds’ best player not seeing eye-to-eye with his head coach.
It’s no coincidence that Salah had his worst season for Liverpool, while Slot appeared to lose the support of plenty of his players.
It was a sad way for both to ultimately leave the club, but with the Reds fanbase, there was only going to be one winner with the masses.
Many would have been happy to see Salah stay on and see out his contract, potentially enjoying life under Andoni Iraola for a year.