Arne Slot press conference: Mohamed Salah and I have the same interests

'We need to evolve to play a brand of football I like'

Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

Liverpool

Arne Slot says Liverpool must find a way to evolve - now, over the summer and the next season - to be successful again

"We have to find a way to evolve the team and play a brand of football I like," Slot said.

"And if I like it, the fans will like it too because I haven’t liked a lot of the ways we've played this season."

Full quotes to follow...

'We want the club to be successful' - Slot on Salah comments

Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

Liverpool

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot on whether Mohamed Salah's comments have had an impact on the players: "I don't know if it had an impact on the group. What I have seen is the team have trained really well this week, and we hope to continue really well in the upcoming two days so we are really prepared.

"I think Mo and I have the same interest - we want the best for this club. We want the club to be as successful as possible. We were both part of giving the fans their first league title in five years - but we are also aware of this season.

"What we want, what he wants and what I want is for the club to be as successful as last season. That is where my main focus is at now because the game on Sunday could give us a really base heading into next season. That is where we should focus."

'It's not that important what I feel about it'

Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

Liverpool

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot on Mohamed Salah's comments on social media: "I don't think it is that important what I feel about it.

"What it is important is that we qualify for the Champions League on Sunday, and I prepare Mo and the rest of the team to be ready for the game in the best possible way. That is what matters.

"I was very disappointed after our loss against Aston Villa, because a win would have given us qualification for the Champions League - which we didn't do. Now there is one game to go and it's a vital one for us as a club."

'Salah should be dropped for final match'

Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

Wayne Rooney

Former Man Utd striker on the Wayne Rooney Show

I find it sad at the end of what he's done and what he's achieved at Liverpool. It's not the point for him to come out and aim another dig at Slot.

He wants to play heavy metal football, so he's basically saying he wants Jurgen Klopp football. Now I don't think Mo Salah can cope with that type of football any more. I think his legs have gone to play at that high tempo and high intensity.

If I was Arne Slot, I'd have him nowhere near the stadium in the last game. I had it with Alex Ferguson. I had a disagreement and fallout and at Alex Ferguson's last game at Old Trafford, he left me out of the squad for that reason.

He's almost just dropped the grenade and said he doesn't trust and believe in Arne Slot and almost thrown his team-mates who are going to be there next season and let them have to deal with that as well and put them into a position.

Salah's words will resonate across fanbase

Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

Aadam Patel

Football Reporter

Scroll down Mohamed Salah's social media and you will realise that this kind of statement on his own channels is rare.

He only posts on social media on the odd occasion, for example, when a team-mate leaves or when he wants to deliver a message to the Liverpool fans.

With just a week to go of his Liverpool career, this is a clear indication in terms of where he thinks the club is heading.

It is a damning verdict of what he thinks of Liverpool's current style of play under Slot and the use of a term like "heavy metal football" is enough to indicate that he wants more change at Anfield.

Of course, Salah will not be part of that change but given what he has done for Liverpool, his words will resonate across the fanbase.

Before his mixed zone interview at Leeds in December, where he said his relationship with Slot had broken down, the understanding from those close to Salah is that a statement issued in a similar way to this one was being considered as an option in order to control the message.

In the end, Salah decided to opt for the mixed zone interview where his passion came out.

This time around, Salah has chosen a more considered social-media statement.

And judging by the comments from players such as Jones and Ekitike on his post and the likes from fellow Liverpool team-mates, he is not alone with his thoughts.

'Not what Liverpool fans deserve'

Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

It isn't just on the field that Arne Slot is facing a tough task.

Last week, departing forward Mohamed Salah said Liverpool must return to being a "heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear" after "crumbling" to a defeat at Aston Villa.

Salah - who has scored 257 goals and won the Champions League and Premier League twice since joining the Reds from Roma in 2017, said: "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. 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."

The Egyptian will depart Anfield after Sunday's season final game of the season against Brentford.

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Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00)

Keifer MacDonald

BBC Sport

This time last year, Anfield was readying itself for one of the most anticipated afternoons in its history as Liverpool prepared to lift Premier League title in front of their supporters for the first time.

But 12 months on, the picture could hardly be more different.

The Reds have endured a wretched campaign - losing 20 times across all competitions - and have yet to mathematically secure Champions League football for next season.

A combination of poor results and a languid style of play has also led to a growing number of supporters voicing their discontent at Anfield in recent weeks.

Head coach Arne Slot is adamant he can turn things around, saying last week that he has “every reason to believe” he will still be in the dugout at the start of next season, despite his side’s struggles and the growing unrest in the stands this term.

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