There is very little to be optimistic about at Anfield at the current moment. While on paper, Liverpool still boast a squad of fantastic players, the reality on the pitch feels massively underwhelming compared to just 12 months ago, when the club was riding high and celebrating a magnificent Premier League triumph.
Now, with iconic legends departing, constant links to new faces, and intense speculation over the head coach’s long-term future, this summer is shaping up to be far more anxious than exciting for Kopites ahead of the final game of the season against Brentford.
The most joyless aspect of this campaign has undoubtedly been Liverpool’s defence of their Premier League crown a defence that never truly landed a glove on the chasing pack.
The final, painful blow landed this past week when Arsenal officially snatched the trophy out of the Anfield outfit’s grasp, ending their 22-year drought to secure their first league title since the legendary ‘Invincibles’ era.
Yet, while the capitulation shocked many on Merseyside, one prominent figure at Liverpool had a strong suspicion this exact scenario would play out before a ball was even kicked.
Salah saw the Gunners coming
Back at the end of August, just as the two juggernauts were preparing to clash at Anfield, Sky Sports spoke to Mohamed Salah about who he viewed as the genuine favorites for the ultimate prize. Rather than backing his own side to retain the trophy, the Egyptian King made his stance unequivocally clear: the Gunners were the team destined for glory in May.
“They [Arsenal] are the favourites because they have a team that has played together for 5, 6 years,” Salah revealed. “So they understand each other’s game, and they have a manager with the team for 5, 6 years. So when the team is stuck together for that long, they know each other’s game, so it becomes easier for them. Other teams like us and City changing a lot of players, which is sometimes tricky… My opinion this year is Arsenal number one.”
“My opinion this year is Arsenal number one”
Mo Salah tells us why he believes Arsenal are favourites for the title this season 🏆 pic.twitter.com/nSijYUQtGc
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 29, 2025
It has proven to be an astonishingly accurate prediction of the entire 2025/26 campaign.
Tactical friction under Arne Slot
Initially, it looked like Salah’s caution might have been unwarranted. Arne Slot’s men actually went on to beat Mikel Arteta’s side 1-0 just a few days after that interview, courtesy of a spectacular, looping free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai.
Tragically, that early-season victory has arguably stood as the peak of Liverpool’s entire year.
As the months rolled on, the squad harmony that Salah pointed out at Arsenal became Liverpool’s glaring weakness. The Reds’ high-profile summer signings have yet to fully embed themselves into the fabric of the club, while several heroes from Slot’s debut season have miserably failed to replicate the form they once showcased.
Even Manchester City suffered a similar transition crisis. Had it not been for the Gunners’ crucial January reinforcement arrivals, such as Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guéhi, the North London outfit likely would have wrapped up the title weeks ago.
Instead, Arteta’s perfectly synchronised unit cruised over the finish line, exploiting the systemic overhauls happening at both Anfield and the Etihad.
While the 33-year-old Egyptian hasn’t issued any further public forecasts ahead of his emotional Anfield farewell this Sunday, his recent social media activity has completely shaken the club to its core—leaving fans, pundits, and most importantly, Arne Slot, in a state of shock.
Following a painful late-season collapse, Salah took to social media to demand that the club return to its foundational roots of “heavy metal football” the explosive, high-intensity identity trademarked by Jürgen Klopp. Because Slot’s tactical approach relies on a more measured, possession-heavy style, many within the game have viewed Salah’s statement as a direct, public critique of the head coach’s philosophy.
Slot has found himself under heavy fire in recent months for Liverpool’s visible deficiencies across several phases of play. Increasingly, the team has relied on individual moments of brilliance like Szoboszlai’s free-kick against the newly crowned champions to bail them out of trouble rather than cohesive team performances.
An uncertain summer awaits the technical dugout
As things stand, the general consensus among Kopites is that Slot will remain in the Liverpool dugout for next season, at the very least until the board conducts its extensive end-of-season review following the Brentford match.
However, the rumour mill is already turning. Whispers have begun circulating that Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola could be lined up as a potential replacement if the 47-year-old Dutchman is relieved of his duties. Given sporting director Richard Hughes’ close historical relationship with the Spanish manager, it is certainly not beyond the realm of possibility should the hierarchy decide a swift change is required.
Liverpool are well aware that immediate, drastic improvements are required for next term. But as Salah wisely noted in August, building a title-winning machine takes time, continuity, and an unbreakable shared identity.
The lingering question remains: will this transition period cost Slot his job following a public call-out from his star player, or will the hierarchy afford him the patience that Arsenal afforded Arteta to prove his doubters wrong?
Club ElementArsenal (Champions)Liverpool (Current State)Squad CoreStable (5–6 years together)High turnover / transitionalManagerial StatusFirmly established (Arteta)Under heavy scrutiny (Slot)Tactical IdentityFluid, synchronized, set-piece dominantFriction between possession & ‘heavy metal’
ReadLiverpoolFC Verdict
It is incredibly bitter to read back Mohamed Salah’s words from August and realize just how spot-on he was. He recognized that while Liverpool spent heavily to overhaul the squad, continuity is the ultimate currency in a modern Premier League title race. Arsenal possessed it, and Liverpool completely lacked it.
The public friction between Salah’s desire for “heavy metal football” and Slot’s more calculated system has exposed a profound identity crisis at the club. Sacking Slot after a single difficult transition year would feel incredibly reactive especially when you consider how many years of patience Arsenal gave Mikel Arteta before reaping these rewards.
However, the football played under the Dutchman simply has to evolve. If Slot cannot get these players to gel quickly, or if he loses the dressing room’s faith in his identity, Richard Hughes may well find himself picking up the phone to Andoni Iraola much sooner than anyone anticipated.