Steven Gerrard has launched a scathing critique of Liverpool's current state, claiming the club has lost its core identity under manager Arne Slot. The former captain's assessment was triggered by Mohamed Salah's rare social media intervention, which Gerrard interprets as a signal of dysfunction within the Anfield dressing room.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Gerrard emphasised the significance of Salah breaking his characteristic silence. "Mo Salah doesn't really speak much, and he doesn't tweet like that," Gerrard said. "I think that he's sending a message to the outside that things in that Liverpool dressing room are not right: the identity's gone and it's really hurting him to see it in front of his own eyes." The timing is particularly striking given the club's catastrophic season, with 12 Premier League defeats already recorded—a damning milestone for a side that won the title just months earlier.
A Crisis Built on Tactical Shift
Salah's intervention appears to centre on the departure from the high-octane, aggressive football associated with the Jurgen Klopp era. By calling for a return to that "heavy metal" style, the departing Egyptian forward has implicitly questioned whether Slot's more methodical, possession-focused approach aligns with Liverpool's established identity. The contrast between the two philosophies has become a focal point for frustration among players and supporters alike.
Gerrard underscored the severity of Salah's words: "That is quite damning to the Liverpool manager and the staff in terms of where this team's at." He further noted the unusual nature of such criticism coming from a player typically defined by professionalism and restraint. "He very rarely speaks. But that is quite damning," Gerrard insisted, adding that the timing—with just one fixture remaining—amplifies the message's weight.
The Performance Against Aston Villa
The catalyst for this internal friction was Liverpool's heavy defeat to Aston Villa, marking their 19th loss across all competitions this season. Salah's use of the word "crumbling" to describe the team's collapse prompted a sharp response from Gerrard. "Crumbling is a strong word. It's quite damning," the midfielder reflected, emphasising that such language is uncharacteristic of the player.
Gerrard's own assessment of the Villa performance was unsparing. He described the display as lacking "fight, no passion, no pattern of play, no connection," with individuals performing well below their established standards. Villa dominated throughout, and Liverpool offered little resistance—a far cry from the intensity that defined their title-winning campaigns.
With the season drawing to a close, the focus now shifts to whether Salah speaks solely for himself or represents a broader player consensus about Slot's management. His willingness to speak publicly signals deeper discontent that may shape Liverpool's recruitment and tactical approach in the summer transfer window and beyond.
