Mohamed Salah wants Liverpool to get back to a "heavy metal" style of play, but Arne Slot needs players equipped to deliver it after a season to forget at Anfield
06:00, 17 May 2026
Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah during Aston Villa vs Liverpool.
Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah during Aston Villa vs Liverpool.(Image: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)
With one game remaining this season, the conversation around Liverpool and what comes next appears to be getting louder. Three more points are needed to secure a Champions League spot, too.
Arne Slot is under pressure to improve performances and results, there is discontent after a tough few months, Mohamed Salah sparked fresh debate by posting on social media on Saturday, and the Reds are in dire need of a reset. The sooner the campaign comes to an end, the better.
The mitigations are obvious and legitimate. Liverpool is still dealing with the loss of Diogo Jota, and its pre-season last summer was significantly affected as a result of that tragedy.
READ MORE: 9 Liverpool stars react to Mohamed Salah's scathing message to Arne Slot and teammatesREAD MORE: Jamie Carragher identifies when Liverpool's problems started with brutal Arne Slot verdict
Across the course of the campaign, injuries have proven to be detrimental. Giovanni Leoni and Alexander Isak are just two of those impacted, with the $200 million (£151 million) duo yet to get going in a Liverpool jersey.
Isak, in particular, though he was to blame for last summer being a write-off as he forced through his transfer, has been a huge loss. It is not unreasonable to suggest that Liverpool would be at least 10 points better off had he been fully fit all year.
Liverpool's roster more generally is imbalanced and lacks speed and depth. It is for that reason that Slot believes things will improve with the right transfers in the upcoming window.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
At the same time, though, there is an undeniable risk attached to sticking with Slot when the atmosphere around the team's performances is so toxic.
Salah's social media post about the approach and a move away from a "heavy metal" style resonated with plenty of Liverpool fans, but the aforementioned mitigations might explain that.
With so few attacking options and a team hardly dripping with energy and pace, is it realistic to implement that approach? That is why Slot wants fresh blood when the summer comes.
What happens if next season starts badly? Fans are fickle — begin with promise and they will get right behind Slot once again. Look unconvincing, however, and Liverpool will quickly be in trouble, especially if Xabi Alonso is doing well at Chelsea.
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Earlier in the week, before Liverpool played Aston Villa, Slot said that he accepted fan opinion would not turn around before the end of the season. It has since only gotten worse after a 19th defeat in all competitions.
The Dutchman is planning for a summer reset (again: the end of the season cannot come soon enough). He says getting the right signings through the door will make all the difference.
At Villa Park, Slot said explicitly that Liverpool supporters are perhaps "underestimating" the power of the transfer market and that things can change more quickly than they think. The style of play and the intensity of the players, no doubt, will come into that.
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The idea that a big swing could happen is true as well. This time last year, for instance, Manchester United was 42 points behind Liverpool; it is now set to finish at least one place above.
Will the Reds have the perfect summer to turn things around for Slot? That is the question that grows with every defeat. With the right additions in the market, though, both Salah and the Dutchman can get what they — and ultimately Liverpool — want.