Liverpool must return to heavy metal football - Salah

Breaking news from the world of sport: Liverpool must return to heavy metal football - SalahImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool one year before his contract was due to expireByHarry PooleBBC Sport journalistPublished7 minutes agoMohamed Salah says Liverpool must return to being a "heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear" after "crumbling" to a defeat at Aston Villa which left their Champions League hopes in the balance. Egypt forward Salah, 33, will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after helping the club to six major trophies in nine years at the club, including two Premier League titles and the Champions League. But, before his final match at the club, the Reds are not yet assured of a top-five finish which would guarantee a place in Europe's elite club competition next season at the end of a trophyless campaign.

In calling for a return to the high-octane approach of former manager Jurgen Klopp, Salah appeared to criticise head coach Arne Slot by saying their identity under the German, who left in 2024, must be "recovered and kept for good". Salah, who has scored 257 goals for Liverpool, said a return to their former way of playing "cannot be negotiable". Dutchman Slot said this week that he has "every reason to believe" he will remain in charge at Anfield despite a disappointing season, and the club's hierarchy have not indicated that they are considering replacing him this summer.

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But fan discontent only continued to grow after the 4-2 loss to Aston Villa on Friday night - their 19th defeat of the season - with many supporters in the away end leaving before full-time at Villa Park. "I have witnessed this club go from doubters to believers, and from believers to champions. It took hard work and I always did everything I could to help the club get there.

Nothing makes me prouder than that," Salah said on social media. "Us crumbling to yet another defeat this season was very painful and not what our fans deserve. I want to see Liverpool go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear and back to being a team that wins trophies.

"That is the football I know how to play and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good. It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it. " Figure caption, Aston Villa secure Champions League spot in win over LiverpoolSalah, who announced his decision to leave Anfield in March, told reporters in December that his relationship with head coach Slot had broken down.

The winger, winner of a record four Premier League Golden Boot awards, scored 29 times in the 2024-25 Premier League as the Reds won the title in Slot's first season in charge. But he has been unable to match the heights of last term, finding the net just 12 times in 40 games across all competitions this season before his final game against Brentford next Sunday.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.