Liverpool’s biggest star and eminent goalscorer Mohamed Salah made a sensational statement on Saturday afternoon – after Liverpool lost to Aston Villa at Villa Park on Friday in the Premier League.
The Reds were beaten 4-2 at Villa Park, meaning they will now likely have to beat Brentford on the final day of the season to secure Champions League qualification next year.
Surprised Liverpool are still betting on Arne Slot.
It’s no secret that Salah and Arne Slot have had a strained relationship this season. The Egyptian publicly criticized his manager when he was an unused substitute against Leeds United in December.
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And on Saturday, he made what is perceived as yet another jab at Slot – in a very forcefully worded statement.
This was Salah’s statement
On Instagram, he wrote:
“I have experienced that this club went from doubters to believers, and from believers to champions. It took hard work, and I’ve always done everything I could to help the club get there. Nothing makes me prouder than that.”
“To see us race together to another defeat this season was very painful, and not something our supporters deserve. I want to see Liverpool go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that the opponents fear – and back to being a team that wins trophies. It’s the football I know how to play, and it’s the identity that needs to be restored and preserved forever. It is non-negotiable. Everyone who comes to this club has to adapt to it.”
“Winning a few games every now and then is not what Liverpool should be about. All teams win matches. Liverpool will always be a club that means a lot to me and my family. I want to see the club succeed long after I have moved on. As I’ve always said, qualifying for next season’s Champions League is the bare minimum – and I will do everything I can to make it happen.”
Many teammates share their feelings
Several of Salah’s teammates seem to share his frustration. The 33-year-old’s post has received almost one million “likes” on Instagram – including from several Liverpool players.
Among those who have liked the post, we find:
- Dominik Szoboszlai
- Ryan Gravenberch
- Ibrahima Konaté
- Andy Robertson
- Wataru Endō
Also Slot’s own signings like the post
Even more remarkable is that five of Arne Slot’s big signings from last summer have pressed “like” on Salah’s statement:
- Hugo Ekitike
- Florian Wirtz
- Jeremie Frimpong
- Giovanni Leoni
- Milos Kerkez
Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott with their own messages
Curtis Jones also liked the post – and followed up with his own feelings in a separate post. There he wrote:
“Thank you for your continued support during a disappointing season. This is far from the standards that are expected in this football club.”
Harvey Elliott, who returns to Liverpool this summer after a very disappointing loan spell at Aston Villa, also liked Salah’s post. So did Stefan Bajčetić, Calvin Ramsay and Rhys Williams.
Players who have liked Mohamed Salah’s post:
- Dominik Szoboszlai
- Florian Wirtz
- Ryan Gravenberch
- Ibrahima Konate
- Andy Robertson
- Hugo Ekitike
- Milos Kerkez
- Curtis Jones
- Jeremie Frimpong
- Wataru Endo
- Giovanni Leoni
- Harvey Elliott
- Stefan Bajcetic
- Calvin Ramsay
- Rhys Williams
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