Salah told Redknapp he had more attacking freedom under Slot than Klopp

Mohamed Salah told Jamie Redknapp that Arne Slot afforded him greater attacking freedom than Jurgen Klopp did during his time at Liverpool — a detail the former Reds midfielder disclosed publicly as Salah’s Anfield career came to an end following his final appearance for the club on Sunday.

Redknapp, who made 308 appearances for Liverpool between 1991 and 2002, said Salah was openly positive about Slot’s methods in the aftermath of Liverpool’s 2024/25 title win. “Mo Salah, when they won the league with Slot, he was very, ‘Oh, this is great now.’ It was a bit different. It was sometimes difficult under Klopp,” Redknapp said. “I just remember him saying that it suits him a lot more with Arne Slot. He’s given me a lot of licence to just not defend as much and then win the game.”

Salah netted 34 goals in the title-winning campaign, a tally widely attributed in part to Slot releasing him from the defensive duties that Klopp had demanded of his forwards. The Egyptian’s output dropped sharply in the following season, however, with just 12 goals across all competitions as Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League and went without a trophy as defending champions.

The contrast in Salah’s public tone between the two seasons has not gone unnoticed. Redknapp suggested that Salah’s more critical remarks on social media this term were a direct consequence of his dip in form rather than a fundamental change in his relationship with the club or its manager. “Because his form wasn’t as good, that’s why he’s probably come out with remarks,” he said.

Despite the underwhelming finish to the season, Redknapp argued that Slot has been judged too harshly and urged patience. Drawing comparisons with the post-Ferguson era at Manchester United and the years that followed Arsene Wenger’s departure from Arsenal, he pointed out that Liverpool winning the title in Slot’s first season — even if built on Klopp’s squad — was far from a given. “Klopp didn’t win it with that team,” Redknapp noted. “So that’s a little bit unfair.”

The pair did not always see eye to eye during the campaign. Salah and Slot clashed publicly midway through the season, a flashpoint that cast a shadow over what had otherwise been a historically successful first year for the Dutch coach at Anfield.