Summary

  • Premier League news conferences: Liverpool boss Slot speaks for first time since Mohamed Salah's social post

  • Slot says both "want the club to be successful" but that's it is "not important" what he feels but boss will not comment on Salah's involvement v Brentford

  • Salah called for a return to the kind of football Klopp made his trademark - a "heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear", to use the Egyptian's words

  • Later, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will be in front of the media, with his future as manager likely to be the hot topic

  • Sources have told BBC Sport that Guardiola is expected to leave the Etihad at the end of the season

  • Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is expected to take over next season

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  1. 'I'm looking forward to next season'published at 10:00 BST

    Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

    Liverpool

    Liverpool head coach Arne Slot on if he is looking forward to the season ending: "I think usually at the end of the season you are looking forward to it ending because it has usually been a long season if you work in England! There a lot of games.

    "I think maybe last season I wouldn't have minded if it had kept on going because it was quite nice after we won the league that we had a few games to play, but still then you feel like enough is enough it is time to go on holiday and prepare for the next season.

    "As I say, I'm looking forward to Sunday because it is a vital game for us. But I am also looking forward to next season to continue evolving this team."

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:57 BST

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    Salah is right and the way the team are playing with the slow build up means by the time Salah receives the ball the opposition defence is set and generally there are two players marking him. Slot has got to change the slow build up.

    Len

  3. Slot asked if he has support of Liverpool playerspublished at 09:53 BST

    Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

    Liverpool

    Liverpool head coach Arne Slot on asked if has the support of his players: "Social media came when I was a little bit older, so as people know I am not involved in social media.

    "I don't know the understanding of what it means if you 'like' a post. What I do know - and that is my world - is to see how they train and I haven't seen anything different to the rest of the season."

  4. 'Salah was happy with style we played last season'published at 09:50 BST

    Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

    Liverpool

    Mohamed Salah of Liverpool kisses the Premier League trophyImage source, Getty Images

    Liverpool head coach Arne Slot on whether Mohamed Salah's comments undermine his style: "I think Mo was really happy with the style we played last season because that led to us winning the league.

    "As I said, football has changed, football has evolved. But we both want what is best for Liverpool and that is for us to compete for trophies."

  5. 'We need to compete with Arsenal and Man City'published at 09:46 BST

    Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

    Liverpool

    Arne Slot head coach of Liverpool embracing Mikel Arteta manager of ArsenalImage source, Getty Images

    Liverpool head coach Arne Slot on whether he will change his team's style next season: "Football has evolved. Football has changed.

    "I was hoping someone would ask me that question at the start but let me congratulate Arsenal on winning the league. The club, Mikel Arteta and his staff - it is a great accomplishment. Winning the Premier League is never easy and they have done a tremendous job this season but for me they have been a different champion to the teams the last 10 seasons.

    "First of all because it is the first time in 30 years 40% of their goals are from set-pieces. Luis Enrique said it and I agree with him, they are by far the best team off the ball in our the Premier League - but I also think in Europe.

    "So football has changed and evolved and we have to make sure we are able to compete with Arsenal and Manchester City next season with our own brand of football. We have to find the right balance and know and understand football has changed and evolved."

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:43 BST

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    Slot says he'd like to play a style of football he likes - well what has he been doing all season?

    Damian, West Kirby

    'We need to evolve to play a brand of football I like'....I...me..my is the Slot stubborn mentality. LFC had an identity when Slot came in but now it's huffing and puffing. No direction. Andoni Iraola is available and very humble IMO not this arrogant Slot. SLOT OUT PLEASE

    Zagori, Johannesburg

  7. 'Champions League fate will impact summer plans'published at 09:39 BST

    Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

    Liverpool

    Liverpool head coach Arne Slot on whether Champions League qualification will impact his side's planning for the summer: "Yeah, it does. As I said over the course of three or four months when someone asks me about qualification for the Champions League, yes it has impact when it comes to our plans. That is definitely true."

  8. 'We want to finish with a win'published at 09:36 BST

    Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

    Liverpool

    Liverpool head coach Arne Slot on Champions League qualification: "We know what we need to do. We need to win or have a draw, otherwise we still have an acceptable goal difference.

    "I think we would like to give our fans a nice way of ending the season because there have been far too many disappointments this season for us.

    "With 'us', I mean the club and that includes the fans, the staff and the players as well. We want to end with a win, knowing that Brentford is playing for something really important as well."

  9. Postpublished at 09:34 BST

    Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

    One thing Liverpool must ensure when the full-time whistle brings the curtain down on a truly disappointing campaign on Sunday afternoon is that they have qualified for the Champions League next season.

    The Reds can achieve that in a number of ways - but the simplest is to take care of their own business and beat Brentford on home soil.

    If they do, they will seal a return to Europe’s elite competition, regardless of what Bournemouth and Brighton do elsewhere.

    There is also a chance Liverpool could leapfrog Aston Villa - who won the Europa League on Wednesday - if they fail to beat Manchester City at the Etihad.

    Liverpool captain Virgil van DijkImage source, Getty Images
  10. get involved

    Get Involved - 'Salah deserves a send-off'published at 09:31 BST

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    If this had not been Salah's last game for Liverpool he would have been dropped. I just can't see Slot not giving him the opportunity to say bye to the fans properly.

    Fraz, Harrow

    You have to pick your battles. Slot could, maybe should, drop Salah but that would make more bad headlines than it saves. The bigger picture is that Salah deserves a send-off, and he's leaving after this, so the right move is to downplay his outburst.

    Cush, Bristol

  11. 'We need to evolve to play a brand of football I like'published at 09:26 BST

    Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

    Liverpool

    Arne Slot says Liverpool must find a way to evolve - now, over the summer and the next season - to be successful again

    "We have to find a way to evolve the team and play a brand of football I like," Slot said.

    "And if I like it, the fans will like it too because I haven’t liked a lot of the ways we've played this season."

    Full quotes to follow...

  12. Slot coy over Salah involvementpublished at 09:23 BST

    Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

    Liverpool

    Liverpool head coach Arne Slot on whether Mohamed Salah will be involved against Brentford on Sunday in the final game of the season: "I never say anything about team selection.

    "It would be a surprise to you if I did it right now, I think."

  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:20 BST

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    I believe when Salah says that he will do everything in his power to get Liverpool CL football. I think he respects his team-mates enough to help them do that. We need a manager who fights for his team, who lives, eats and breathes the club. Iraola in please?

    Becca

  14. 'We want the club to be successful' - Slot on Salah commentspublished at 09:17 BST

    Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

    Liverpool

    Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool talks with Mohamed SalahImage source, Getty Images

    Liverpool head coach Arne Slot on whether Mohamed Salah's comments have had an impact on the players: "I don't know if it had an impact on the group. What I have seen is the team have trained really well this week, and we hope to continue really well in the upcoming two days so we are really prepared.

    "I think Mo and I have the same interest - we want the best for this club. We want the club to be as successful as possible. We were both part of giving the fans their first league title in five years - but we are also aware of this season.

    "What we want, what he wants and what I want is for the club to be as successful as last season. That is where my main focus is at now because the game on Sunday could give us a really base heading into next season. That is where we should focus."

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:14 BST

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    Salah is always going to receive the backing of the Liverpool fans because he is a Liverpool legend. It also seems like he is standing up for not just the fans but the players too. It seems like not everything is right in the dressing room. Time will tell.

    Jack

    As selfish as his words appear, Salah is right. The more Slot imprints his ideas on the team, the worse they get. Liverpool had a winning formula, and they have abandoned it along with the players who created that success.

    Brett

  16. 'It's not that important what I feel about it'published at 09:12 BST

    Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

    Liverpool

    Liverpool head coach Arne Slot on Mohamed Salah's comments on social media: "I don't think it is that important what I feel about it.

    "What it is important is that we qualify for the Champions League on Sunday, and I prepare Mo and the rest of the team to be ready for the game in the best possible way. That is what matters.

    "I was very disappointed after our loss against Aston Villa, because a win would have given us qualification for the Champions League - which we didn't do. Now there is one game to go and it's a vital one for us as a club."

  17. 'Salah and I have the same interests'published at 09:08 BST

    Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

    Liverpool

    Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, looks onImage source, Getty Images

    Arne Slot was asked about Mohamed Salah’s social media post and he says that they share the same goals.

    “Mo and I have the same interests. We want the best for the club - to be successful," Slot said.

    Pressed on whether Salah will feature on Sunday, Slot said he never discusses team selection in advance.

    Full quotes to follow...

  18. Postpublished at 09:05 BST

    Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

    Liverpool

    Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has taken his seat for his pre-match news conference.

    We'll bring you everything he has to say right here.

  19. get involved

    Get Involved - 'Salah merely stating the obvious'published at 09:03 BST

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    Salah was merely stating the obvious, but that needed to be behind closed doors, if it was the other way round he'd probably accuse Slot of throwing him under the bus.......

    Andrew

    Rooney is right. Salah must be dropped. Selfish and has always made it about him. He's had a bad season and needs to grow up and move on.

    Micheal P

  20. 'Salah should be dropped for final match'published at 09:01 BST

    Liverpool v Brentford (Sun, 16:00 BST)

    Wayne Rooney
    Former Man Utd striker on the Wayne Rooney Show

    I find it sad at the end of what he's done and what he's achieved at Liverpool. It's not the point for him to come out and aim another dig at Slot.

    He wants to play heavy metal football, so he's basically saying he wants Jurgen Klopp football. Now I don't think Mo Salah can cope with that type of football any more. I think his legs have gone to play at that high tempo and high intensity.

    If I was Arne Slot, I'd have him nowhere near the stadium in the last game. I had it with Alex Ferguson. I had a disagreement and fallout and at Alex Ferguson's last game at Old Trafford, he left me out of the squad for that reason.

    He's almost just dropped the grenade and said he doesn't trust and believe in Arne Slot and almost thrown his team-mates who are going to be there next season and let them have to deal with that as well and put them into a position.