Mohamed Salah said in December that his relationship with head coach Arne Slot had broken down
Arne Slot has refused to confirm whether Mohamed Salah will play a part at Anfield on Sunday, in what would be his last appearance for Liverpool.
In a social media post last weekend, Salah called for Liverpool to change their style of play in what came across as an attack on their football under manager Slot.
The Reds great will leave the club this summer after nine years at Anfield.
"I never say anything about team selection," said Slot, when asked about Salah's involvement against Brentford, a game from which Liverpool need a point at most to confirm Champions League qualification.
Earlier this season, Salah, 33, was left out of the squad for a Champions League game away to Inter Milan after saying in an interview that his relationship with Slot had broken down.
Asked how he felt about the Egypt forward's comments, Slot said: "I don't think it is that important what I feel about it. What is important is that we qualify for the Champions League on Sunday and I prepare Mo and the whole team in the best possible way for the game.
"I was very disappointed after our loss against Villa because a win would have given us qualification for the Champions League which we didn't get. Now there's one game to go which is a vital one for us as a club.
"We both want what's best for the club, we both want the club to be successful, and that's the main aim.
"I have to find a way to evolve this team now and definitely in the summer and in the upcoming season to be successful again, and to play a brand of football that I like. And if I like it then the fans will like it as well because I haven't liked a lot of the way we played this season.
"But we try to evolve the team in a way that we can compete but definitely also play the brand of football, the style of football the fans, I, and hopefully Mo if he's somewhere else at that moment in time, will like as well."
Slot was also defensive when asked whether Salah's comments about Liverpool needing to recover their identity undermined his authority.
"You are doing a lot of assumptions. First of all you say that he wants to play that style and then say it is not my style," Slot said.
"I think Mo was really happy with the style we played last year as it led to us winning the league. Football has changed, football has evolved, but we both want what is best for Liverpool and that is for us to compete for trophies, which we haven't done this season and which we did last season.
"He and the team – and I was included in that – brought the league title back after five years and we would like to challenge for that again next season and continue to evolve the team. That is my take on it."
Asked what he thought about other Liverpool players liking and commenting on Salah's post, Slot said: "Social media came when I was a little bit older, so as people know I'm not really involved. I don't really know what it exactly means if you 'like' a post.
"What I know, and that is my world, is to see how they train and I have not seen anything different compared to the rest of the season."
We want the best for the club - Slot
Liverpool must return to heavy metal football - Salah
Understandably, Slot was determined not to inflame the situation with Salah any further and constantly insisted throughout his news conference that he and Salah want what is best for Liverpool.
In that respect, Slot ensured that the situation was under control, but by failing to outline that Salah will play a part on Sunday, there remains an element of doubt about what the Egyptian's farewell at Anfield looks like.
Either way, it is a story of a damaged relationship that has dominated the headlines throughout a torrid campaign.
There was at least a clear admittance that Liverpool must change their ways, with Slot saying that he hasn't liked much of the football his side have played this season.
The talk of evolving the style of play, after Salah's comments about Liverpool playing "heavy metal" football again, came with a caveat from Slot, who highlighted that football has changed, with an emphasis on set-pieces, and that teams must find balance between playing a brand of football that fans want to see but also winning.
Perhaps fittingly, Slot's final line - said with a smile on his face - spoke about finding a style of play that not only he and the fans can get behind, but also Salah.
The Egyptian will no longer be a Liverpool player next week, but as recent days have shown, his words carry more weight than most.
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