Mohamed Salah has insisted that a “disintegrating” Liverpool team needs to rediscover their identity and called for the return of the “heavy metal attacking team” that so feared Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp.
It was another tough night for Arne Slott’s Liverpool. They lost 4-2 at Villa Park, leaving their Champions League hopes still alive. It was Slot’s team’s 12th league defeat of the season, meaning Slot’s team had not won an away Premier League game against a top nine team all season.
In what some will see as a thinly veiled attack on under-fire head coach Slott, Salah, who will play the final game of his career for Liverpool next weekend, said Friday night’s defeat at Villa was “very painful” and the Reds must get back to being “a team that wins trophies”.
Liverpool won the Premier League last season after Slott took over from Klopp, who was known for playing so-called “heavy metal football”.
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Watch for free: Premier League highlights of Aston Villa vs. Liverpool.
Salah’s harsh verdict on a ‘difficult’ season
Salah gave a scathing assessment of Liverpool’s form this season, saying on social media: “I have witnessed this club go from doubters to believers and from believers to champions.
“It took a lot of hard work and I always gave my all to help the club get there and nothing could make me more proud.
“To have this season come crashing down with yet another defeat is extremely heartbreaking and not what the fans deserved. I want to see Liverpool get back to being the heavy metal attacking team that their opponents fear, and the team that wins trophies. That’s the football I know and that’s the identity that should be restored and preserved forever.”
“That is non-negotiable and everyone who joins this club has to adapt to that. Winning a game here and there is not what Liverpool should be. Every team wins a game.”
“Liverpool will always be a club that means a lot to me and my family. I want to see it succeed long after I leave. As I have always said, qualifying for next season’s Champions League is the minimum requirement and I will do everything in my power to make that happen.”
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Jamie Redknapp believes Arne Slott will be under immense pressure if Liverpool fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League, especially if Xabi Alonso is available as his replacement.
Salah said after the 3-3 draw with Leeds in December that he had been “thrown under the bus” and had nothing to do with the slot.
The 33-year-old Egyptian striker has scored over 250 goals for Liverpool since joining from Roma in 2017, establishing himself as one of the club’s best ever players.
Liverpool announced in March that Salah, who has won two Premier League titles, a Champions League crown, an FA Cup and two Carabao Cup trophies, and is the club’s third all-time top scorer, would leave Anfield on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Salah signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool in April 2025.
Slott insists Liverpool will be stronger next season
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Arne Slott admitted Liverpool struggled to cope with Aston Villa’s quality and intensity after their 4-2 defeat at Villa Park.
Meanwhile, under-pressure Liverpool boss Slott has promised to be even better next season.
Liverpool’s trophy-less season ends on May 24th with a home game against Brentford. Depending on Bournemouth and Brighton’s results in the coming days, Liverpool may need a good result to secure a top-five spot in order to qualify for the Champions League.
The Dutchman, who has been well-received by the supporters, expects further improvement from the team next season, although he may not find any reason for optimism after a difficult camp.
“I can understand that at this point they don’t have a lot of confidence or feeling that they’re going to be better next season,” Slott said.
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Virgil van Dijk looks back on a disappointing season for Liverpool and aims to move one step closer to Champions League qualification next year against Aston Villa
“But I think they underestimate what they can do in the window, what they can do with a fresh start. And I think we have a good idea of what we need to improve on.”
“I think one of the things that we have to improve on is very, very, very obvious and I don’t want to talk about it here, but actually you’re almost forcing it on me.
“Even if we miss out on nine players who could start a game of football, almost all of whom are starters for us or have played a large part of the season, if you add that to being able to improve in a short period of time and add that to players playing in their second season in the Premier League, it will automatically lead to even more accomplishments.
“I don’t think the difference is that big, but just doing the right thing in a few situations already gives you the potential for a significant uptick.”
Carla: “Liverpool have too many weak players”
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool have too many “weak” players in their squad after losing 4-2 to Aston Villa on Friday Night Football.
Liverpool’s defense continues to be weak against Unai Emery’s side, with Liverpool conceding 52 goals in the league this season, the most they have conceded in 38 games this season.
“This has been going on since the first game of the season against Bournemouth on Friday night,” Carragher said in co-commentary on Sky Sports.
“Liverpool have too many players who are physically and mentally weak and we have to fix that. Next season it’s like Arne Slott that we have to fix that.”
“However, this result does nothing to support the sentiment surrounding his current position.
“Liverpool aren’t great at anything. They look like a really average team. They’ve been taken to the clean room.”
