Trent Alexander-Arnold was among those to react to Mohamed Salah's explosive social media post that the Liverpool man wrote on Saturday, where he made his feelings clear

21:14, 16 May 2026

Trent Alexander-Arnold in action for Real Madrid.(Image: Federico Titone/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold was among those to react to Mohamed Salah's lengthy post on social media on Saturday, which called for a change of playing style at Anfield.

Salah's post was also liked on Instagram by teammates Dominik Szoboszlai, Andy Robertson, Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo and Milos Kerkez, in addition to Harvey Elliott, with many interpreting it as a dig at head coach Arne Slot. Results and performances at Liverpool lately have not been good enough, with three more points still required to qualify for the Champions League.

Midfielder Curtis Jones commented with a clapping emoji and later posted his own message to Liverpool fans, while Hugo Ekitike posted a handshake emoji to indicate his agreement with the sentiment that things have to improve.

READ MORE: Steven Gerrard voices 'damning' Liverpool theory after Mo Salah statement - 'Identity's gone'READ MORE: 9 Liverpool stars react to Mohamed Salah's scathing message to Arne Slot and teammates

"I have witnessed this club go from doubters to believers, and from believers to champions," Salah wrote.

"It took hard work and I always did everything I could to help the club get there. Nothing makes me prouder than that.

"Us crumbling to yet another defeat this season was very painful and not what our fans deserve. 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.

Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah during a Liverpool training session.(Image: Nikki Dyer - Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"Winning some games here and there is not what Liverpool should be about. All teams win games.

"Liverpool will always be a club that means a great deal to me and to my family. I want to see it succeed for long after I have moved on.

"As I’ve always said, qualifying to next season’s Champions League is the bare minimum and I will do everything I can to make that happen."

Reds legend Steven Gerrard later responded to the message while he was appearing on TNT Sports' coverage of the FA Cup final.

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"Mo Salah doesn't really speak much, and he doesn't tweet, and he certainly doesn't tweet like that," Gerrard said.

"I think that he's sending a message to the outside that things in that Liverpool dressing room are not right: the identity's gone and it's really hurting him to see it in front of his own eyes.

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"I'm surprised of the timing. One game to go, his last game for Liverpool.

"You guys know, you've been involved in the media: he very rarely speaks, he's done interviews lately because he's obviously bringing the curtain down on an incredible Liverpool career.

"But that is quite damning to the Liverpool manager and the staff in terms of where this team's at. That's my opinion on that."

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Mohamed Salah will call time on his Liverpool career after the Reds' final-day clash with Wolves on Sunday, having issued a stinging criticism of the club's current playing styleMatt Addison Liverpool FC Reporter and Connor O'Neill Senior Sports Content Creator

19:47, 16 May 2026

Steven Gerrard talks on TNT Sports.(Image: Cameron Smith - The FA via Getty Images)

Steven Gerrard has described Mohamed Salah's lengthy social media post as "damning" while questioning whether the Egyptian is speaking solely for himself or voicing the concerns of the wider Liverpool dressing room.

In his post, Salah called for Liverpool to return to being a "heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear" following its "crumbling" defeat to Aston Villa on Friday night.

The forward has never shied away from expressing his views, and Liverpool clinched the Premier League title last season under Slot, who succeeded the high-energy Jurgen Klopp. The forward's scathing critique of the Reds' current style of play has widely been interpreted as a thinly veiled dig at the under-pressure head coach.

READ MORE: 9 Liverpool stars react to Mohamed Salah's scathing message to Arne Slot and teammatesREAD MORE: Jamie Carragher identifies when Liverpool's problems started with brutal Arne Slot verdict

Gerrard believes the 33-year-old, who will bring his Anfield career to a close at the end of the season, has signaled to the wider world that all is not well within the Liverpool camp.

"Wow. Listen, that is extremely interesting," he told TNT Sports. "Mo Salah doesn't really speak much, and he doesn't tweet, and he certainly doesn't tweet like that.

"So I think that he's sending a message to the outside that things in that Liverpool dressing room are not right: the identity's gone and it's really hurting him to see it in front of his own eyes.

"I'm surprised of the timing. One game to go, his last game for Liverpool.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

"You guys know, you've been involved in the media: he very rarely speaks, he's done interviews lately because he's obviously bringing the curtain down on an incredible Liverpool career.

"But that is quite damning to the Liverpool manager and the staff in terms of where this team's at. That's my opinion on that.

"Is he speaking off his own back for the sake of everyone else in the dressing room? It's strange, it's unusual.

"He's going to be doing a load of media around his last game, I'm sure. I'm really looking forward to the coming days because that's unusual for a Liverpool player, and it's unusual for Mo Salah."

Liverpool's defeat against Unai Emery's side at Villa Park marked Liverpool's 19th defeat across all competitions this season, leaving its Champions League qualification in the balance.

Gerrard acknowledged the painful nature of how comprehensively the Reds were outplayed in the Midlands.

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"Crumbling is a strong word," he added. "It's quite damning, the timing. It's unusual coming from Mo. The pressure's on the players and the pressure's on the manager because it's been nowhere near good enough.

"The performance last night was terrible, it was awful, it was difficult to watch from start to finish, and it hurt me watching Liverpool last night. I don't normally say that.

"It was a tough 90 minutes and they got what they deserved. Villa were better all over the pitch.

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"There was no fight, no passion, no pattern of play, no connection, they're not moving around the pitch together, individuals were miles off what I know they can perform at. It hurt me to watch Liverpool last night; they were nowhere near good enough. Let's finish on that note."

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Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool and Spain midfielder, is reportedly set to be imminently announced as the permanent replacement for Liam Rosenior at Stamford Bridge

19:02, 16 May 2026

Xabi Alonso during his time at Real Madrid.(Image: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)

Former Liverpool and Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso appears to be on the verge of becoming Chelsea's latest head coach, with a four-year deal said to be in place for him to move to Stamford Bridge.

Alonso is widely reported to be on the brink of replacing Liam Rosenior in West London, with Chelsea having also employed Enzo Maresca this season. The Italian was let go amid speculation that he could take over from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, the team that beat Chelsea in today's FA Cup final.

According to The Athletic, the agreement between Chelsea and Alonso is fully complete. It is suggested by RMC Sport that the 44-year-old will have a greater say on transfers than previous people to hold the position.

READ MORE: 9 Liverpool stars react to Mohamed Salah's scathing message to Arne Slot and teammatesREAD MORE: Liverpool transfer news and rumors today LIVE: Salah statement, Arne Slot future, Alonso agreement

Alonso has been out of work since he was fired by Real Madrid earlier this calendar year. He previously won the Bundesliga at Bayer Leverkusen, ending a long wait for a league title.

As one of the game's most highly rated young coaches, the Premier League was the obvious next step. Chelsea is one of few options realistically available to him, given he would not have been interested in moving to Manchester United.

Arne Slot, meanwhile, said on Thursday that he would be in charge next season at Liverpool. Plenty of Reds fans have put forward the possibility of the Spaniard taking over after a difficult campaign.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

"I don't think I am deciding that alone by myself but I have every reason to believe I am the Liverpool manager next season," Slot said before the 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa.

"First of all, I am contracted to this club and second of all from all the talks we are having. That is my take on it.

"If you don't have the best season, especially if you compare with last season — if you compare it with other seasons you might have a different debate, but if you compare it with last season — this has definitely not been a great season, then it is also normal that criticism comes.

"We have all had our share, and with all I mean the players have had their share, the manager has had their share and other people in the club have had their share. That is how things work nowadays if you don't win the league."

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Liverpool concludes this season with a home game against Brentford next Sunday. It needs to win that match to be guaranteed of a place in the Champions League next term.

Liverpool.com says: Alonso is taking a big risk by going to Chelsea. It is a club that has been very unstable and is hardly the calm environment in which he has thrived in the past.

At the same time, though, he doesn't have many options available to him. Having managed in Germany and Spain already, the Premier League is the obvious next step.

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Jamie Carragher has highlighted the Liverpool squad's weakness across the season as the Red's failed to secure Champions League football against Aston Villa

Will Jenkins

08:02, 16 May 2026

Jamie Carragher was disappointed with Liverpool's performance against Aston Villa(Image: James Gill - Danehouse, Getty Images)

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes Arne Slot's squad's 'weakness' has been an issue since the first game of the season, as the Reds suffered a 4-2 defeat away to Aston Villa on Friday night.

Liverpool's clash against Unai Emery's Villa gave Slot's team an opportunity to secure Champions League football ahead of the final game of the season. Although Virgil van Dijk headed two past Emi Martinez, it was Villa who ran rampant, scoring four goals and securing their place in Europe's top competition next season.

Despite Liverpool having the majority of possession, Emery's squad dominated across the field. Ollie Watkins caused centre-backs Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate issues all night, with the striker earning a brace for his efforts.

READ MORE: Arne Slot transfer need glaring as Liverpool one step closer to reset - 4 talking pointsREAD MORE: Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers as Rio Ngumoha lively but two really struggle

Liverpool have now conceded 52 goals in the league this campaign, a new record for the club in a 38-game season. Ex-Liverpool defender Carragher has put this down to the team's fragility - a problem that hasn't been fixed since the first game back in August.

Commentating on Sky Sports, Carragher said: "This has been happening since the first day of the season on a Friday night against Bournemouth.

"Liverpool are far too weak - physically and mentally - and it has to be fixed. It looks like Arne Slot is going to be the man who has to fix it next season.

"But this result does nothing in terms of the feelings of the supporters around his position right now. Liverpool don't excel at anything. They look like a really, really average team. They have been taken to the cleaners."

Slot's side had managed to get away with a frail defence earlier in the season, having picked up five wins in their first five games. However, as the season trundled on, it seemed opposition sides had caught onto Liverpool's brittle back line.

Liverpool have since gone from looking like they could win back-to-back titles to possibly going into the final game of the season needing a result just to secure Champions League football.

Ollie Watkins netted twice against Liverpool(Image: Getty)

The Anfield faithful will have one eye on Bournemouth and Brighton's remaining matches. If results don't go Liverpool's way, including in the final game of the season, they could finish as low as seventh.

Although Liverpool's season has been under scrutiny by both pundits and fans, a fifth-place finish would still keep them in the pinnacle of European football. But with their performances this season, Carragher can't understand how they are still in fifth.

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He continued: "I can't actually believe that Liverpool are fifth in the league. You think about the number of goals they've conceded, they never look threatening going forward, and that away record - and Liverpool are fifth in the Premier League? Wow."

Liverpool's final game will be against Brentford at Anfield. Keith Andrews' team are bound to come out all guns blazing, with a first-ever European finish on the line for the west London club.

That match will also be the final game Mohamed Salah will play for Liverpool. The question mark hovering around Liverpool Football Club is whether it will be Slot's final appearance too.

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Liverpool suffered a 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa on Friday night, with the Reds potentially needing a result in their final Premier League game of the season against Brentford to secure Champions League football

Paul Gorst

07:29, 16 May 2026Updated 07:34, 16 May 2026

Joe Gomez in action during the Aston Villa defeat(Image: Liverpool FC, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Joe Gomez has conceded that Liverpool were their own worst enemies during Friday night's 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa.

The Reds suffered their 12th Premier League loss of the season as Unai Emery's side overtook them in fourth place to seal their spot in next season's Champions League.

Having seen Virgil van Dijk cancel out Morgan Rogers' first-half opener, Ollie Watkins netted twice before a spectacular John McGinn strike made it 4-1 in the dying stages. Captain Van Dijk nodded home a second late on, but it amounted to little more than a consolation on a deeply disappointing evening for the champions.

READ MORE: Arne Slot transfer need glaring as Liverpool one step closer to reset - 4 talking pointsREAD MORE: Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers as Rio Ngumoha lively but two really struggle

The result leaves Arne Slot's side potentially requiring a positive outcome at home to Brentford next Sunday in the final fixture of the campaign, and Gomez spoke candidly about his frustrations after lining up at right cener-back at Villa Park, reports the Liverpool Echo.

"We cost ourselves a big opportunity today," the defender told LFCTV. "We know that. It sums up our year, with it being in our hands and errors that are avoidable at pivotal points in the game where we could have got momentum.

"At the end of the day, it's still in our hands (qualifying for the Champions League), the goal remains the same. We've just got to do the job next week now.

"It felt that we had control. It's just frustrating because it's lapses in concentration. Something that's highlighted, we know: they're great at set-pieces.

"They've got a reputation for doing routines and doing things outside the box, and we knew that. We had to be focused.

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"It's fine margins in the Premier League and that adds to it [the frustration]. It is what it is now, we can't sit here and feel sorry for ourselves, we just have to do the job.

"We know what we have to do next weekend and we have to beat Brentford at home."

Gomez added: "It's a long week. Obviously we've got a lot of injuries but we've got to band together. We know we have to give the supporters something to support in how we play and how we approach the game.

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"Hopefully we end the season on a positive note – that's the goal. That goal doesn't change from today and we know what we have to do."

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Arne Slot knocked back more questions over his future after Liverpool’s defeat to Aston Villa, which leaves the Reds’ Champions League hopes hanging in the balance.

Liverpool went into its penultimate game of the campaign at Villa Park knowing that victory would secure a top-five finish in the Premier League, and with it a place at Europe’s top table once again.

Liverpool’s latest failure will almost certainly see questions over Slot’s future as head coach grow. The Dutchman insisted during the week that he is still confident he will remain in charge next season, but he was in no mood to discuss his future again on Friday.

"It's not about me, it's about us being disappointed with the result,” Slot told the BBC’s Match of the Day.

“I spoke yesterday on it and that's enough. Our focus is on the Brentford game and making sure we earn the support of the fans by starting the game aggressive and well.

“The culmination of the fan support and a good performance will lead us to what we want to achieve and that is qualifying for the Champions League."

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