Arne Slot has shrugged off Mohamed Salah’s social-media criticism of him by insisting he and the departing forward want the same things for Liverpool.
And the Liverpool head coach believes that, despite 12 members of his squad liking Salah’s post, he still has their backing.
Salah said Liverpool crumbled to defeat at Aston Villa last Friday and urged them to go back to playing the heavy-metal football associated with former manager Jurgen Klopp.
But Slot, who is not on social media, said: “The impact, 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.
“What I know, and that is my world, is to see how they train and I have not seen anything different compared to the rest of the season. We had a good week and it is never easy another disappointment at Villa and going into the last week of the season. Out of experience I know that is usually not the most simple week but the boys trained really well and I’m expecting them to do the same in the upcoming two days.”
Salah is set to make his final appearance for Liverpool against Brentford on Sunday with Slot’s side needing a point to guarantee a top-five finish and the Dutchman said that is more significant than his views on the Egyptian’s posts.
He added: “I don’t think it is that important what I feel about it. What is important is that we qualify for the Champions League on Sunday and I prepare Mo and the whole team in the best possible way for the game. I was very disappointed after our loss against Villa because a win would have given us qualification for the Champions League which we didn’t get. Now there’s one game to go which is a vital one for us as a club.”
Slot claimed he and Salah are united in being disappointed by this season and in both having the best interests of Liverpool at heart.
He added: “Mo and I both have the same interest, we want the best for this club. We want the club to be as successful as possible and we were both part of giving our fans their first league title again after five years. But we are also aware we didn’t have the same level this season. What we want, what he wants, what I want is for the club to be as successful as we were last season.”
Slot is waiting to see if goalkeeper Alisson and striker Alexander Isak will be fit to return against Brentford.
The goalkeeper has not played for two months while the £125m buy missed the defeat to Villa with a minor injury.
And Slot added: “Ali will train with us today [Friday] so that is a positive. Alex trains for the first time today parts of what we are going to do so to a certain extent both are positive.”
