Arne Slot responds to Mohamed Salah social media post and makes Liverpool playing style point

The Liverpool manager has faced questions from the press for the first time following Mohamed Salah's controversial social media post.

Arne Slot has responded to comments from Mohamed Salah over Liverpool's style of play by admitting the Reds need to evolve to keep pace with the Premier League leaders next season.

Salah, who will leave on a free transfer this summer, caused a stir at the weekend when posting a message on social media that called for a return to the "heavy metal football" that was made popular under Slot's predecessor Jurgen Klopp.

It further increased the scrutiny on the Reds boss after a disappointing defence of their Premier League crown, with Champions League qualification still not mathematically assured going into the final game at home to Brentford on Sunday afternoon.

But when asked whether he had been undermined by the statement that suggested his preferred style wasn't what Liverpool required, Slot said on Friday: “You are doing a lot of assumptions; first of all you say that he wants to play that style and then say it is not my style.

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"I think Mo was really happy with the style we played last year as it led to us winning the league.

"Football has changed, football has evolved, but we both want what is best for Liverpool and that is for us to compete for trophies, which we haven’t done this season and which we did last season.

"He and the team – and I was included in that – brought the league title back after five years and we would like to challenge for that again next season and continue to evolve the team. That is my take on it."

Slot added: "We both want what's best for the club, we both want the club to be successful and that's the main aim and I have to find a way to evolve this team now and definitely in the summer and in the upcoming season to be successful again, and to play a brand of football that I like and if I like it then the fans will like it was well because I haven't liked a lot of the way we played this season as well.

"There were far too many games where we dominated ball possession but it didn't lead to anything special or any moments.

"But again, that's also the way the league has evolved because in general we don't see the 3, 4, 5-0 games anymore. It's a close game every single time, not only with us but any single game.

"But we try to evolve the team in a way that we can compete but definitely also play the brand of football, the style of football the fans, I, and hopefully Mo if he's somewhere else at that moment in time will like as well."

Salah's comments came in the wake of a dismal 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa last Friday, although Bournemouth's 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City in midweek means Liverpool only need a point to guarantee a top-five finish and a Champions League berth. If the Reds lose, the Cherries would require a swing in goal difference of at least six to give themselves a chance of overhauling the Reds.

Twelve senior first-team squad members liked the Egyptian's post on social media, prompting suggestions that Slot may not have the support of the dressing room.

But he said: "I don’t know if it had an impact on the group but what I have seen is that the team trained really well this week and we hope to continue really well in the upcoming two days so we’re as best prepared as possible.

"But we are also aware we didn’t have the same level this season. What we want, what he (Salah) wants, what I want is for the club to be as successful as we were last season. That is where my main focus is now because the game on Sunday could give us a really good base going into next season. That is where I, we, should focus.”

Salah returned from a minor hamstring problem with a cameo from the bench at Villa Park and could be in line for a start on Sunday.

Slot, though, was playing his cards close to his chest, and said: "I never say anything about team selection so it would be a surprise to you if I did that right now.”

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