Tag: Arne Slot

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted that his relationship with Mohamed Salah has not broken down, even after dropping the star attacker from their trip to face Inter Milan in the Champions League.

“That’s not the way I feel, but he has the right to feel how he feels things. I haven’t felt that at all,” said Liverpool coach Slot to supporters.

The Egyptian forward was not taken to Italy despite training earlier in the day with the first team, after saying he felt like he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club and no longer had a relationship with Slot.

Salah made those comments after he was left on the bench for the third consecutive game in a 3-3 draw against Leeds.

Asked whether Salah, who has scored 250 times for Liverpool since signing from Roma in 2017, had played his last game for the Reds, Slot said: “I have no clue.”

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“I cannot answer that question at this moment in time,” added Arne Slot. “He has every right to feel what he feels, but he doesn’t have the right to share it with the media.”

Liverpool are struggling in ninth place in the Premier League and are in a crisis of form, which has only been made worse by Salah’s criticism of Slot.

Liverpool have won just four times in 15 matches in all competitions and sit 13th in the Champions League with nine points after being thumped 4-1 at home by PSV Eindhoven in their most recent European outing.

Mohamed Salah is the club’s highest-paid player in history, having signed a new contract in April, and played a key role in Liverpool’s two Premier League titles and one Champions League triumph during his iconic spell on Merseyside.

But Salah has been a shadow of his former self during Liverpool’s struggles this season; the Premier League champions are now ninth in the table, with just four goals in 13 top-flight appearances.

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Mohamed Salah took aim at Liverpool manager Arne Slot in an astonishing rant that could spell the end of his legendary career at Anfield after claiming he has been “thrown under the bus” during the Premier League champions’ slump in form.

The Egyptian was left on the bench for the third consecutive game in Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds and was not even introduced as a substitute by Slot.

After next weekend’s home match against Brighton, Salah is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and hinted that it could be his final appearance in a Liverpool shirt should he be selected.

“I’m very, very disappointed. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season,” Salah told reporters in the mixed zone at Elland Road.

“Now I’m sitting on the bench, and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.

“I got a lot of promises in the summer and so far I am in the bench for three games, so I can’t say they keep the promise.

I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden, we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club.

“This club, I always support it. My kids will always support it. I love the club so much, I will always do. I called my mum yesterday — you guys didn’t know if I would start or not, but I knew.

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“Yesterday I said to (my parents), ‘Come to the Brighton game.’ I don’t know if I am going to play or not, but I am going to enjoy it.

“In my head, I’m going to enjoy that game because I don’t know what is going to happen now. I will be at Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go the Africa cup. I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.”

Salah is Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time with 250 goals in 420 appearances, winning two Premier League titles and the Champions League since joining from Roma in 2017.

However, he has been a shadow of his former self during Liverpool’s struggles this season.

Slots’ men have won just two of their last 10 Premier League games to slip to eighth in the table.

Salah has scored just five times in 19 appearances this season but had been a regular starter until last weekend’s 2-0 win at West Ham.

The 33-year-old was introduced off the bench during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Sunderland but to little effect.

Slot defended his decision to leave Salah on the bench at Elland Road as Liverpool led for the majority of the second half before conceding a stoppage-time equaliser.

“It was more about controlling the game [at 3-2], and we didn’t need a goal,” said Slot.

“Normally when you need a goal, like last week against Sunderland, I brought Mo on.”

Salah has long since attracted interest from the Saudi Pro League, and the Gulf could offer his most likely escape route from Anfield during the January transfer window.

He signed a lucrative new two-year contract in April after his starring role in guiding Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.

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Arne Slot insisted Friday that Liverpool have taken a “step forward” in their past two matches and believes Florian Wirtz is finally finding his feet as he attempts to save the club’s season.

Liverpool’s Premier League title defence has collapsed in recent weeks, with six defeats and just two wins in their past nine league games.

But despite their disastrous run, they are just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea ahead of Saturday’s trip to struggling Leeds.

Ninth-placed Liverpool have taken four points in their past two matches, with a 2-0 victory at West Ham followed by this week’s 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland.

That followed three thumping defeats — a 3-0 reverse at Manchester City before a 3-0 loss at Anfield against Nottingham Forest, and a 4-1 defeat at home to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

“Four points out of two games is different than the last two home games we played,” Liverpool manager Slot told reporters.

“We lost both and conceded seven goals. In the last two games, we were one deflection away from keeping two clean sheets.”

The Dutchman added: “That’s a step forward if you compare that to seven goals conceded in two games. We did not concede a set-piece in both games, which is also important.

“As a result of that, maybe we got two results, and I think there are also positives to take from the players we’ve brought in during the summer that I see they are getting more and more consistent in their performances.

“Florian (Wirtz) is maybe the most obvious one, but I see the same with Milos Kerkez as well. Alex (Alexander Isak) scored his first (Premier League) goal a game ago.

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“So there are positives to take, but of course still not where we want to be, let that be obvious and clear. But compared to where we were after the last two losses with 3-0 and 4-1, there are also things that we’ve done better.”

Liverpool spent around £450 million ($600 million) on new players in the summer transfer window, revamping their attack with the big-money arrivals of German playmaker Wirtz and Isak.

But both players have been slow to settle, with Wirtz yet to score in any competition although it was his run and shot that led to Liverpool’s equaliser against Sunderland on Wednesday. It was credited as an own goal.

Slot admitted his first aim was to get back into the top four, which brings with it a Champions League place.

He said the fact Liverpool were still within touching distance of the top four showed the strength of the Premier League.

“It gets better and better every single season, for obvious reasons, because everybody has so much money,” he said.

“And that tells you indeed how close the margins still are, but it’s definitely our first aim to come back to top four.”

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Arne Slot admitted on Tuesday that “superhuman” Mohamed Salah was unhappy about being omitted from Liverpool’s team for their vital 2-0 win against West Ham, but praised his attitude.

The Egypt forward was an unused substitute at the London Stadium on Sunday as Liverpool boss Slot made changes following a terrible run of nine defeats in 12 games in all competitions.

Misfiring Salah, 33, has scored just four Premier League goals this season — in stark contrast to his haul of 29 last season, a tally that won him the Golden Boot.

Slot told reporters that during his reign as manager at Anfield, Salah had been a “superhuman being” but that he had not been at his best in recent weeks.

“As with all players around the world, there are also phases in your time at the club that you are human,” he said. “But he’s scored so many goals for us, and I’m sure he will in the future.”

Slot, whose eighth-placed team hosts high-flying Sunderland on Wednesday, said he was not surprised by Salah’s reaction to being left out, praising his professionalism.

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“That’s a normal reaction from a player that’s good enough to play for us,” he said. “And I say it mildly, because he’s been so outstanding for this club for so many years, and will be for us in the future.

“So, yeah, of course, a player isn’t happy when they’re not playing. He wasn’t the only one who wasn’t happy that he wasn’t starting, I can tell you.”

The Dutchman said that Salah had been supportive of his teammates.

“You cannot be a player that’s available every three days and play on that high standard if you go with your emotions,” he said.

“But Mo is so disciplined, knows what to do to stay fit, and no matter if he plays well, doesn’t play well, if he plays or if he doesn’t play, he will always be that top professional.”

Slot said that Salah was scheduled to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15.

“As always in these situations, there’s a player involved, there’s the nation involved — Egypt in this situation — and the club. And there are always talks about what is best for all three of us,” he said.

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot says he will give Trent Alexander-Arnold a warm welcome when Real Madrid visit Anfield on Tuesday, even if the right-back receives a frosty reception from his formerly adoring fans.

The England international, a boyhood Reds fan, ran down his contract to join the Spanish giants in June for a nominal fee.

The 27-year-old played a huge role in the Reds’ return to the top of English and European football under Jurgen Klopp and Slot, winning two Premier League titles and the Champions League.

“I have great memories of the player and of the human being,” said Slot, who won the Premier League during his only season working with Alexander-Arnold.

“I have memories working with him, which were only positive and I have memories when I was watching him in front of the television, which are only positive as well.

“I can remember multiple great moments of him wearing the Liverpool shirt.”

The Dutchman told reporters on Monday: “He will get a warm welcome by me. Let’s first wait and see if he’s on the pitch tomorrow, and how our fans will react.”

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The England international was booed by Liverpool fans at times during his final few months at the club as his expected departure approached.

Liverpool have badly missed his presence in a difficult start to Slot’s second season, with six defeats in their past eight games.

But the move to Spain is also yet to work out for Alexander-Arnold, who has been hampered by a hamstring injury and has found himself on the bench a number of times.

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso is expected to keep faith with Federico Valverde at right-back from the start of Tuesday’s blockbuster Champions League clash.

Just under a year ago, Liverpool beat the 15-time European champions 2-0 at this stage of the competition.

However, Madrid arrive on Merseyside in far better form this time around, with French striker Kylian Mbappe in scintillating form.

Los Blancos are five points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga and have a perfect record of three wins from three games in the league phase of the Champions League.

“They have always been a big force in this competition,” said Slot. “A very good team, but we are a very good team as well.”

Slot confirmed Alisson Becker, Alexander Isak, and Jeremie Frimpong are out injured, with only Isak in contention to return to face Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.

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Arne Slot said Friday the “last thing” he is worried about is Mohamed Salah finding his scoring touch again after the Liverpool forward’s barren run for the club extended to six games.

The Egypt international has not scored a Premier League goal from open play since the opening weekend of the season and was dropped from the starting line-up for Liverpool’s 5-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League in midweek.

He was also substituted late in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield last week after missing two big chances, even as the home team desperately chased an equaliser.

Liverpool manager Slot, whose team face Brentford on Saturday, said he did not know why Salah, who won the Premier League Golden Boot last season, was struggling.

“In general, in football, players miss chances, and Mo is a human being as well,” he said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“So we’re not used to him missing chances, let alone a few games in a row, but these things can happen.”

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But the Dutchman said he was confident that Salah, who has scored just two Premier League goals in eight matches this season, would re-discover his cutting edge.

“The last thing I worry about is Mo starting to score goals again,” he said.

“Because that’s what he’s done his whole life, and that’s what I expect him to do in the upcoming weeks and months for our club as well.”

Liverpool romped to the Premier League title last season and then splashed out around £450 million ($600 million) on new players in the summer transfer window.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid combined with injuries has resulted in a number of different players being used at right-back, including midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.

Slot admitted his team were taking time to adjust, including 33-year-old Salah, who plays on the right of Liverpool’s attack.

“He’s been in promising positions often enough for him to score goals, but maybe with Trent even more, I don’t know,” he said.

“But I think in general, for every player, if you have quite a few changes in your squad during the summer, then everyone needs to find new connections again, and that goes normally like this a little bit.

“Mo is not an exception to this.”

Liverpool, who started the season with seven straight wins in all competitions, have lost their past three matches in the Premier League and are fourth in the table, four points behind leaders Arsenal.

Jeremie Frimpong and goalkeeper Alisson Becker are out of the Brentford match with hamstring injuries, while Slot is awaiting updates on Alexander Isak, who sustained a groin problem in midweek, and midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes maintaining the squad that is romping towards the Premier League title is more important than major new signings.

The Reds’ plans for next season have been boosted by Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk signing new deals to remain at Anfield over the past week.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is still reportedly set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer when his deal expires at the end of the season.

Van Dijk said ahead of agreeing his new contract that he expects a “big summer” in the transfer market from the Reds.

Slot’s only signing in his first year in charge was Federico Chiesa, who has played a peripheral role. But with Liverpool 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League, the Dutchman is content with the squad he has at his disposal.

“Let’s see what the rest of the summer will bring, but it would be strange for me to say now I am not happy with the team because I’ve said this for a year, we are happy with the team we are having,” Arne Slot said on Friday.

“Maybe if we can keep that team, it will already be a big summer.

“I think the core of the team you want to keep as long as you can together, as long as they are performing in the best possible way, but it is also, in general, good to have some new energy in and around the place with one or two players.

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“But it isn’t really a necessity when you look at the quality we have and the quality of the season we have had.”

Liverpool could seal the title as soon as Sunday if they win at Leicester and Arsenal lose away to Ipswich.

Alexander-Arnold is back in contention to feature after returning to training following an ankle injury.

Slot hailed the right-back’s “incredible” quality and refused to give up hope of retaining the England international.

“The moment he is on the pitch, he shows me what a great player he is, and he has shown how hard he is trying to achieve our goals this season,” added Slot.

“The fans and everyone who watched football for the last five, six, seven years know he is an incredible full-back and has been an incredible full-back for this football club.

“Let’s see what the future brings.”

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Liverpool confirmed on Monday that Feyenoord coach Arne Slot will be the new manager of the Premier League club, 24 hours after Jurgen Klopp’s emotional farewell at Anfield.

Liverpool said in a statement that the Dutchman, 45, would take up the position of head coach on June 1, subject to a work permit.

The club did not specify the length of his contract but it was widely reported in the British press that Slot had signed a three-year deal.

The new manager’s arrival was an open secret, with Liverpool reportedly agreeing a compensation deal worth up to £9.4 million ($12 million).

Slot confirmed Anfield was his next destination at his final pre-match press conference at the Eredivisie club on Friday.

Klopp, 56, announced January that the 2023/24 season would be his last at Anfield, and took charge of his final game on Sunday, a 2-0 win against Wolves.

In his farewell speech to the crowd, Jurgen Klopp urged fans to throw their full support behind his successor, leading them in a chant of “Arne Slot, na na na na na”.

“You welcome the new manager like you welcomed me,” he said. “You go all-in from the first day. And you keep believing and you push the team.”

Slot, linked with a move to Tottenham last year, became Feyenoord boss in 2021 after impressing in his first managerial role at AZ Alkmaar.

He led the Dutch giants to the inaugural Europa Conference League final at the end of his first season, which they narrowly lost 1-0 to Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

Arne Slot then delivered just a second league title in 24 years to De Kuip last season before penning a new three-year deal.

“You can see people are genuinely sorry you are leaving,” he said on Friday.

“You can say that with words, but when you see it in people’s faces, it affects me quite a lot.”

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Feyenoord have enjoyed a strong season, winning the Dutch Cup and coming second to an all-conquering PSV Eindhoven side in the league.

Under Slot, Feyenoord have delighted the fans at De Kuip with an attacking brand of football and Slot has won praise from Klopp himself.

“I like the way his team plays football. If he is the one, I like that he wants it,” Klopp said last month.

“It’s the best job in the world, best club in the world. Great job, great team, fantastic people. A really interesting job.”

Liverpool captain and fellow Dutchman Virgil van Dijk has hailed Slot’s attacking mindset, saying it would suit the philosophy at Anfield.

Speaking about the future under the new boss, Van Dijk said: “It is all about sticking together and giving him the chance of showing what he is capable of with the other guys who will come in.

“He probably knows already but everyone knows our expectations are always huge and it is about managing that in the right way and getting the maximum out of all of our players.”

Arne Slot has huge shoes to fill at Anfield after Jurgen Klopp restored Liverpool to the elite of English and European football during his nine-year reign.

Under his leadership, Liverpool won a sixth Champions League crown and a 19th league title, as well as a clutch of other silverware.

Initially, Bayer Leverkusen boss and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso was the favourite to succeed Klopp at Anfield.

However, Alonso committed to staying at Leverkusen as he led them to a first-ever Bundesliga title.

Liverpool finished third in the Premier League, qualifying for next season’s Champions League, and won the League Cup in Klopp’s final season.

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Liverpool reached an agreement with Feyenoord on Friday for Arne Slot to succeed Jurgen Klopp as manager, British media reported.

The Press Association said that a compensation package for the 45-year-old, who had two years left on his contract, has now been agreed.

The BBC claimed that the deal is worth up to £9.4 million (10.9 million euros).

Slot had said Thursday that he was “confident” of landing the Anfield job.

“I would like to go to Liverpool. Now I’m waiting to see whether the clubs reach an agreement. I’m very confident in that,” he told reporters.

Slot moved to Feyenoord in 2021 after impressing in his first managerial role at AZ Alkmaar.

He led the Dutch giants to the inaugural Europa Conference League final at the end of his first season, in which they narrowly lost 1-0 to Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

Slot then delivered just a second league title in 24 years to De Kuip last season before penning a new three-year deal.

Klopp will step down at the end of this season after a nine-year reign which brought the Champions League title in 2019 and Premier League trophy a year later.

“I like the way his team plays football. If he is the one, I like that he wants it,” Klopp told reporters on Friday when asked to highlight Slot’s qualities.

“I don’t know him, but some people who know him say he’s a good guy. I like that a lot. So good coach, good guy. Looking forward for the club, if he is the solution, if he is the man, I’m more than happy.

“It’s the best job in the world, best club in the world. Great job, great team, fantastic people. A really interesting job.”

 

Feyenoord are currently second in the Eredivisie table, with PSV Eindhoven nine points clear at the top.

Failing to win the Dutch title would be a disappointment for Slot, mirroring Klopp’s frustration at Liverpool’s own faltering title bid.

Liverpool are in third place in the Premier League, three points behind leaders Arsenal and two adrift of second-placed Manchester City.

City have a game in hand on both Arsenal and Liverpool, who look to have blown their chance after defeats against Crystal Palace and Everton.

As well as their poor recent league form, Liverpool have also endured quarter-final defeats in the FA Cup and Europa League.

Initially, Bayer Leverkusen boss and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso had been the favourite to succeed Klopp.

However, Alonso has committed to staying at Leverkusen after leading them to a first-ever Bundesliga title.

Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim was also linked with the Liverpool vacancy but has reportedly held talks with West Ham about replacing David Moyes next season.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said Slot’s attacking tactics could be the ideal match for the Premier League club.

“I think Arne Slot is perhaps one of the better Dutch coaches at this moment,” said Van Dijk.

“I think the way of playing and the philosophy he has, that he could be a Liverpool coach.”

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