Mohamed Salah and Arne Slot relationship broke down at Liverpool, says Lovren
Former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren has claimed that Mohamed Salah’s relationship with manager Arne Slot completely deteriorated before both men departed Anfield at the end of the season.
The Egyptian winger ended his nine-year association with the Merseyside club following a disappointing campaign that saw the team finish fifth in the Premier League.
Slot was subsequently dismissed from his managerial post and has since been replaced by Andoni Iraola.
Salah endured his worst statistical season for the club, leading to him being dropped to the bench by the Dutch coach.
Trust issues and Klopp comparisons
The three-time PFA Player of the Year previously expressed frustration over his treatment, suggesting the manager had “thrown him under the bus”.
Lovren, who remains close friends with the prolific forward, insists that the situation would have been managed differently by previous manager Jurgen Klopp.
“They didn’t have a good relationship,” Lovren told WinWin.
“With Klopp, he had a really good relationship. It wasn’t always perfect, but they knew each other very well, they trusted each other, they liked each other.”
The Croatian centre-back believes the German tactician knew exactly how to protect his star players during difficult periods of form.
“But with Slot it was the opposite, it’s that simple.”
Media criticism and a bitter exit
The 35-year-old defender also heavily criticised the media’s harsh treatment of his former team-mate during his final months in England.
Lovren described the intense scrutiny as “disgusting” given the remarkable consistency the attacker had displayed over nearly a decade.
“Why didn’t they talk about him like this for the past eight or nine years? Okay, one season, and then he’s the target again.”
Following a heavy 4-1 defeat to Aston Villa in his penultimate appearance, the departing forward took to social media to urge a return to the “heavy metal football” synonymous with the Klopp era.
The public show of dissent highlighted the deep tactical and personal disconnect that ultimately defined a turbulent season for the six-time European champions.