9 hours ago
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Arne Slot has refused to confirm whether Mohamed Salah will play a part at Anfield on Sunday, in what would be his last appearance for Liverpool.
In a social media post last weekend, Salah called for Liverpool to change their style of play in what came across as an attack on their football under manager Slot.
The Reds great will leave the club this summer after nine years at Anfield.
"I never say anything about team selection," said Slot, when asked about Salah's involvement against Brentford, a game in which Liverpool need a point to confirm Champions League qualification.
Earlier this season, Salah, 33, was left out of the squad for a Champions League game away to Inter Milan after saying in an interview that his relationship with Slot had broken down.
Asked how he felt about the Egypt forward's comments, Slot said: "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.
"We both want what's best for the club, we both want the club to be successful and that's the main aim.
"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 as well because I haven't liked a lot of the way we played this season.
"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."
Slot was also defensive when asked whether Salah's comments about Liverpool needing to recover their identity undermined his authority.
"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," he said.
"I think Mo was really happy with the style we played last year as it lead 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 we 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."
Asked what he thought about other Liverpool players liking and commenting on Salah's post, Slot said: "Social media came when I was a little bit older, so as people know I'm not really involved. I don't really know what it exactly means if you 'like' a post.
"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."
