Arne Slot’s tenure at Anfield was supposed to be a seamless transition into a new era, but the 2025/26 season has instead been defined by friction and a crumbling dressing room culture.
While Slot has overseen a dramatic dip in form that sees Liverpool sit in 4th place, struggling to book the final Champions League spot after 19 defeats – it is his deteriorating relationship with club legend Mohamed Salah that has drawn the sharpest criticism.
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Arne Slot’s fallout with Mohamed Salah
The fallout between Slot and Salah has become the season’s highlight for the club.
After being benched for a critical run of games in December, Salah publicly claimed the club had “thrown him under the bus.”
Rather than diffusing the situation with the “human touch” that defined the previous regime, Slot doubled down.
He refused to initiate a patch-up, insisting that it is up to the player to bridge the gap. The Egyptian was subsequently left out of the European squad to play Inter and a cold, professional distance was followed that has alienated the club’s greatest modern goalscorer.
Sadio Mane’s story about Jurgen Klopp shows major difference between two managers
The stark contrast in leadership was highlighted recently by Sadio Mane. Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s Presents podcast, Mane recalled a heated falling out with Jurgen Klopp after being dropped for a match against Manchester United.
“I missed the ball two times in training and he changed me; I didn’t start the next day. We won 4-0 and I waved off his handshake.
“But the next day, he texted me: ‘Can we be friends again?’ I went to his office and we sorted everything.”
Klopp’s willingness to swallow his pride to protect a player’s ego and squad harmony is a masterclass in man-management, an approach that seems entirely foreign to the current head coach.
Arne Slot’s latest Mohamed Salah swipe raises fresh concerns
Slot recently appeared to aim another subtle dig at Salah during a press conference.
After Salah spoke openly about concerns regarding the club’s culture and direction, Slot responded by insisting that “standards matter on the pitch, not just the gym” – comments widely interpreted as a pointed criticism of the departing forward.
In the pre-Chelsea press conference, he said: “The standards are not only important in the gym. It’s also on the pitch, OK? You understand me? Without me saying anything?”
Questions around Slot’s management style now extend beyond Salah.
Concerns over Harvey Elliott’s treatment and the perceived lack of opportunities for academy players have further fuelled criticism of a manager increasingly accused of struggling with player relationships.
To conclude: The missing human touch
What Slot is getting terribly wrong is the lack of human touch and the lack of connection between the club, the fans, and the players.
For Klopp, he saw his players as humans above all. He prioritized the individual behind the athlete, making a personal connection with each of them that translated into legendary performances.
Slot’s clinical, distant approach has severed that bond, proving that tactical acumen is worthless if you lose the hearts and minds of the dressing room.
Klopp built a family atmosphere at Liverpool. Right now, Slot appears to be running a department and Liverpool’s performances suggest the dressing room may already feel the difference.
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