Arne Slot sets the record straight after criticism of Salah | OneFootball

Liverpool: Arne Slot delivers a clear message on Mohamed Salah's role

Arne Slot sets the record straight after criticism of Salah

Arne Slot, Liverpool’s head coach, wasted no time in firing back at the criticism aimed at Mohamed Salah following the Reds' 2-1 defeat to Chelsea before the international break. At the heart of the controversy was Blues left-back Marc Cucurella, who suggested that the Egyptian international was partly to blame for Chelsea’s victory, citing the space left open on his right flank. The Dutch manager saw this analysis as both reductive and unfair.

According to Cucurella, Chelsea’s game plan revolved around exploiting the defensive imbalance created by Salah’s attacking runs—often supported by forward-thinking midfielders like Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz.

"Salah could have changed the game"

Slot, however, preferred to highlight a very different aspect of the match. "I listened to Cucurella’s comments and rewatched the goal sequence, but I could also show you five or six moments where Salah could have made the difference," he retorted. The Reds coach believes his star forward’s attacking contribution justifies any defensive risks: "It’s always a question of balance between the wingers and full-backs. I want my defenders to join the attack, and sometimes that means leaving spaces."

While Salah has been less prolific since the start of the season, Slot is hoping to see his star man bounce back in the high-stakes clash against Manchester United: "If you lose three games in a row with Liverpool, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is—you have to respond. And that goes for the whole team, not just Salah."