Salah criticizes Liverpool style under Slot after Villa loss

Mohamed Salah's latest public criticism has added pressure on Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.

Salah first voiced frustration after the 3-3 draw at Leeds United in December, saying he had been dropped and "thrown under the bus" during the team's poor start to the season.

After Friday's 4-2 loss at Aston Villa, the Egyptian forward, who will play his final game for the club against Brentford at Anfield, posted a 190-word statement on social media that attacked the team's style under Slot and its results this season.

Slot won the Premier League in his first season after replacing Jurgen Klopp, but results and performances have since declined sharply.

Aston Villa, managed by Unai Emery, confirmed Champions League qualification with the win and will also play in the Europa League final. Liverpool, by contrast, looked weak and open at Villa Park.

Salah wrote: "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."

The post was liked by several Liverpool players, including Andrew Robertson, Wataru Endo, Milos Kerkez, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch. Former players Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jarell Quansah also liked it. Curtis Jones replied with a clapping emoji and Hugo Ekitike posted a handshaking emoji.

The statement has been viewed by many fans as a direct challenge to Slot, who is already under pressure after a disappointing title defence. Some supporters see Xabi Alonso as a possible replacement, though the former Real Madrid midfielder now appears set to join Chelsea.

Salah has scored 257 goals for Liverpool since joining from Roma in 2017 for £34 million. He helped the club win the Champions League and two Premier League titles.

Slot recently rejected suggestions that standards would drop after Salah leaves, saying he believes standards remain high. The relationship between the player and coach has been strained for months, and the public criticism has made Slot's position more difficult ahead of the final weeks of the season.