Mohamed Salah’s explosive social media post demanding a return to “heavy-metal football” has left Sky Sports pundits at odds, much like the atmosphere in Liverpool’s locker room.
On Friday night, Liverpool suffered a 4-2 defeat against Aston Villa, adding more pressure on manager Arne Slot during what has been a lackluster season. The Reds currently sit in fifth place, still chasing a Champions League spot, having lost 12 out of 37 league games. Fans have increasingly turned their frustration toward the Dutch manager.
After the match, Salah, who is expected to depart the club at season’s end, seemingly took a dig at Slot through a social media post. He criticized the team’s tendency to “crumble to yet another defeat” and called for a revival of the “heavy-metal attacking football” style associated with former manager Jurgen Klopp.
The question of whether Salah should receive a fitting farewell this weekend has sparked debate. Jamie Carragher offered a balanced perspective on whether Slot should include Salah in the starting lineup against Brentford.
“I don’t believe any manager should make decisions that ultimately harm the team,” commented the former Liverpool defender. “If having Mo Salah on the field this weekend gives Liverpool the best shot at victory, he should be in the lineup.”
Much like the Liverpool dressing-room, Salah’s bombshell social media statement in which he called for the return of ‘heavy-metal football’ has left the Sky Sports punditry team divided
Salah’s relationship with the under pressure Slot has been tested multiple times this season
“I’ve been critical of Mo Salah’s selfishness on the pitch. Arne Slot can’t afford to be selfish; he must prioritize the club’s needs. If Liverpool requires a result against Brentford and Salah is part of the best team to achieve that, he should definitely play,” Carragher added.
‘If Liverpool are already qualified for the Champions League, that might be different. Arne Slot might think, “I’m going to play the players or start the players who are going to be here next season and we bring Mo Salah on from the bench.”
‘Arne Slot is not in a position of great strength at Liverpool at the moment, and that’s why Salah made his comments. He hasn’t got the backing of the crowd right now, and that’s why Salah’s done it. He’s put him in a really awkward position where he knows he’s almost got to pick him and give him that send-off because if he doesn’t give him the send-off, I think the fans will turn even more.’
Patrick Vieira, on the other hand, took a substantially more hardline view on matters, insisting that Salah should now have played his last game for the team he represented for nine years.
‘He’s disrespected the manager – and if you’re a manager and you’ve been disrespected by a player, I don’t think he should play him.
‘I don’t think Mo Salah has made a huge difference for Liverpool this year. I don’t think it’s the best Mo Salah we’ve seen this year. So the question will be if Liverpool are better with Mo Salah or without Mo Salah.
‘But the decision has to be made by the manager regarding the respect or the loss of respect Salah has shown him. For me he shouldn’t play him.’
Salah’s latest outpouring of frustration comes amid a hugely disappointing personal season for the forward, who has lifted nine trophies during his time at the Anfield club.
Having won the Premier League’s Player of the Season award in 2024-25 after scoring 29 goals and adding 18 assists, he has netted just seven times this time around and set up six goals.
Interestingly, Carragher said that he wasn’t surprised by Salah’s latest outburst coming so close to the end of the season and his own exit.
‘I’m not surprised,’ he said. ‘I told everybody, “something else will come before the end of the season. He’ll drop another bomb a little bit like Ronaldo did on the way out of Manchester United”. I thought it may come after the end of the season when he’d moved on, but no.
‘Less than two years ago, I called him selfish for doing an interview and I think that rings true again. Liverpool have a really important week. They are still not fully qualified for the Champions League and it should be about Liverpool FC, not Salah FC.
‘It’s vital that Liverpool make the Champions League positions, but I’m not surprised and it’s not a good look at all.’
