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Mohamed Salah has come under criticism from former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who said he was not surprised by the forward’s comments aimed at Arne Slot and labelled them “selfish”.
Salah issued a statement on social media after Liverpool’s 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa, appearing to criticise Slot’s tactical approach.
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The 33-year-old called for a return to the “heavy metal football” style associated with the reign of Jurgen Klopp, insisting that adapting to that identity “cannot be negotiable”.
“I have witnessed this club go from doubters to believers, and from believers to champions. It took hard work and I always did everything I could to help the club get there,” he said.
“Nothing makes me prouder than that. 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.
“Winning some games here and there is not what Liverpool should be about. 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.”
Salah, who is expected to leave Anfield in the summer, had earlier this season expressed frustration with Slot, claiming he was “thrown under the bus” ahead of his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations.
“I’m not surprised,” Jamie Carragher said on Salah’s latest comments. “I told everybody, ‘something else will come before the end of the season.
“He’ll drop another bomb a little bit like Ronaldo did on the way out of Manchester United’. I thought it may come after the end of the season when he’d moved on, but no.
“Less than two years ago, I called him selfish for doing an interview and I think that rings true again. Liverpool have a really important week.
“They are still not fully qualified for the Champions League and it should be about Liverpool FC, not Salah FC. It’s vital that Liverpool make the Champions League positions, but I’m not surprised and it’s not a good look at all.”
“I don’t believe any manager should ever cut off his nose to spite his face,” Carragher added. “If playing Mo Salah at the weekend gives Liverpool the best chance of winning the game, you have to pick him.
“I’ve criticised Mo Salah about being selfish. Arne Slot can’t be selfish, he has to think of the club, what’s best for the club. If Liverpool need a result against Brentford he has to play him if he thinks he’s in his best team.
“If Liverpool are already qualified for the Champions League, that might be different. Arne Slot might think, ‘I’m going to play the players or start the players who are going to be here next season and we bring Mo Salah on from the bench.’
“Arne Slot is not in a position of great strength at Liverpool at the moment, and that’s why Salah made his comments. He hasn’t got the backing of the crowd right now, and that’s why Salah’s done it.
“He’s put him in a really awkward position where he knows he’s almost got to pick him and give him that send-off because if he doesn’t give him the send-off, I think the fans will turn even more.”
Mohamed Salah’s comments came just days before what is expected to be his Anfield farewell, with Liverpool hosting Brentford on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday.
The Reds could need a win to secure a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League if Bournemouth get a result against Manchester City on Tuesday night.