Top sources expose Liverpool’s shock call on Slot’s future as Edwards and Hughes wade into the crisis.
Two major sources have revealed Liverpool’s surprising position on the possibility of sacking Arne Slot amid his ongoing conflict with Mohamed Salah.
Before Salah exploded in frustration following his third straight game on the bench last weekend, much of the talk around Anfield had already centred on Slot and growing doubts about his future.
Amid the noise of the past few days, it’s almost easy to overlook the fact that Liverpool are enduring a disastrous title defence and look unable to execute even basic football fundamentals.
This season, Liverpool have been the Premier League’s worst side from set pieces—scoring only twice while conceding 10. No other team has a poorer goal difference from dead-ball situations. They struggle to break down low blocks, lose too many duels, press without conviction, get countered repeatedly, and make endless defensive mistakes.
Yet despite Slot appearing out of his depth, the fallout with Salah has actually strengthened Liverpool’s determination not to dismiss the Dutch manager. According to The Athletic’s James Pearce, both Michael Edwards (FSG’s football CEO) and sporting director Richard Hughes “remain fully supportive,” and their reaction to Salah’s comments reinforces that stance.
This comes even as Pearce himself acknowledged Slot’s many shortcomings this season. He pointed out tactical errors—such as weakening the midfield by pushing Dominik Szoboszlai to right-back and continuing to trust Ibrahima Konaté despite a string of costly mistakes. Slot even admitted after the Leeds draw that Konaté had been “a bit too much on the crime scene” this year.
Slot has also failed to get the best out of club-record signing Alexander Isak and has been unable to fix Liverpool’s dreadful set-piece defending. As Pearce summarised, the team has regularly looked fragile and disjointed.
Still, Liverpool seem determined—rightly or wrongly—to stand by Slot. And that message is being echoed to David Ornstein as well.
Speaking on NBC Sports, Ornstein stated: “They are 100 percent behind him. There is no doubt in their mind at this point in time over his future. They are backing him to regain form and continue last season’s success—fully, for now.”
What about Mohamed Salah?
Journalist Graeme Bailey reports that sources close to Salah say the Egyptian no longer believes he’ll stay at Liverpool beyond January. Salah and his representatives are prepared to push for a mutual contract termination, which would allow him to join a new club—with the Saudi Pro League his most likely destination.
However, despite Salah’s desire to leave, Ornstein insists Liverpool currently have no plans to let their star go.
“That’s not to say they’ve lost faith in Mo Salah,” he said. “There is a belief they can still sort this out.”
On Monday, Pearce added that the responsibility now falls on Edwards and Hughes to negotiate some form of truce between Slot and Salah.
In other developments, Jamie Carragher’s fiery criticism of Salah on Monday Night Football impressed some fans—but one part of his argument actually proved Salah’s point.
Elsewhere, the representatives of Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck have spoken to several clubs about a possible move in the summer of 2026, with Liverpool among the teams on his shortlist.
And finally, Inter Milan boss Cristian Chivu—whose team face Liverpool tonight—delivered a frosty 17-word response when asked about the chaos involving Slot and Salah.