Mohamed Salah makes stance clear on Arne Slot in private chat with ex-Liverpool team-mate

Ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian has spilled the beans on Mohamed Salah’s admiration for new boss Arne Slot, as the Dutchman takes over the reins from Jurgen Klopp.

Slot, who previously managed Feyenoord, stepped into Klopp’s sizeable shoes after his nine-year tenure and has been getting to grips with his role since the start of July, focusing initially on those not involved in international fixtures.

With the Premier League season looming just three weeks away, key players including Salah are now back in training and buzzing about Slot’s approach.

Despite parting ways with Liverpool this summer, Adrian remains in close contact with his ex-colleagues, such as Kostas Tsimikas and Salah, who have expressed their enthusiasm for Slot’s philosophy.

In a candid chat with The Athletic, Adrian disclosed: “I speak almost every day with many of the squad – Kostas Tsimikas, Mo Salah. They tell me they like it, the ideology is the same as with Jurgen. To be intense, direct, play with pace, press high, be brave.”

He added: “Liverpool’s squad is made for that. So the new coach will know how to adapt well to the players he has. And I wish him the best.”

The thumbs-up from Salah regarding Slot’s impact is particularly noteworthy for the Anfield faithful, especially amidst the swirling rumours about Salah’s future as he enters the last 12 months of his deal.

Over the past year, there has been interest in Salah from Saudi Arabia, and it was anticipated that Middle Eastern clubs would challenge Liverpool before the new season after Al-Ittihad’s colossal £150million bid for the forward was rejected last summer.

Liverpool are reportedly trying to persuade Salah, who has scored over 200 goals for the Reds, to extend his Anfield tenure beyond 2025. They do not want to sell Salah this summer – even if he refuses to commit to a new contract.

Club captain Virgil van Dijk and vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contracts also expire at the end of the season, and previous reports have suggested that securing all three players on new deals is a priority for the club’s hierarchy.