Liverpool manager Arne Slot declined on Thursday, 22 May to confirm whether Mohamed Salah will start against Brentford F.C. on Sunday — a match confirmed as the Egyptian forward's final appearance at Anfield after nine years with the club. The fixture also carries Champions League qualification stakes, adding layers of pressure to an already charged occasion.

Slot's stance on selection

'I never say anything about team selection,' Slot told reporters at his pre-match press conference, deflecting questions about whether Salah would feature. The Dutch manager's tight-lipped approach comes amid a backdrop of reported friction between the two, making every word at the podium closely scrutinised.

Slot framed the weekend's priority in unambiguous terms. '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,' he said.

The Salah-Slot tension in context

The relationship between Slot and Salah has been a recurring subplot this season. Earlier in the campaign, the 33-year-old was omitted from Liverpool's squad for the UEFA Champions League away fixture against Inter Milan after publicly acknowledging tensions with his manager. More recently, Salah posted comments on social media suggesting Liverpool needed to rediscover their footballing identity — remarks widely interpreted as a pointed critique of Slot's tactical approach.

Slot, however, pushed back on the notion that Salah's public remarks had undermined his authority. 'You are making 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. He pointed to last season's Premier League title triumph as evidence of shared purpose: 'I think Mo was really happy with the style we played last year, as it led to us winning the league.'

Champions League qualification on the line

Liverpool need at least a point from Sunday's match to secure a place in next season's UEFA Champions League. Slot admitted the club paid a heavy price for their recent defeat to Aston Villa F.C., which delayed confirmation of their European berth. '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,' he said.

Slot on evolving Liverpool's style

Looking beyond Sunday, Slot acknowledged that Liverpool's style of play must develop. '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,' he said.

He also offered a conciliatory note about Salah's impending departure: 'We both want what's best for the club, we both want the club to be successful, and that's the main aim.'

Salah's legacy at Anfield

Mohamed Salah has confirmed he will leave Liverpool F.C. at the end of the 2025-26 season. He departs as the club's all-time top scorer in the Premier League, having contributed to two league titles, the UEFA Champions League, and the FIFA Club World Cup, among other honours. His nine-year tenure is widely regarded as one of the most decorated individual spells in the club's modern history.

Whether he takes to the Anfield turf one final time on Sunday remains, for now, Slot's secret to keep.