Mohamed Salah has told Liverpool boss Arne Slot and his team-mates ‘you better win next year’ ahead of his final appearance for the club on Sunday.
Salah is set to bring the curtain down on an illustrious, record-breaking nine-year spell at Anfield, where he became the club’s third-highest goalscorer of all time with 255.
The Egyptian star and Andy Robertson will bow out after Liverpool’s home match against Brentford at Anfield.
Both Salah and Robertson were presented with gifts at the Reds’ training ground before their final appearance with Slot addressing the pair.
The duo gave their own speeches before departing, with Salah expressing his emotions before departing the club.
‘I don’t want to be emotional today, because tomorrow is going to be an emotional day,’ Salah said.
Mohamed Salah told Arne Slot and his Liverpool team-mates ‘you better win next year’
‘But, I really appreciate every moment I’ve had at this club.
‘I’ve had a great time with all of you, and it’s something I will take with me in the future, so thank you very much. Hopefully, I’ll see you soon again.’
After Robertson spoke, Salah quickly interjected to add a final message to Slot and his team-mates.
‘Wait, one more thing I want to say,’ Salah said.
‘Being in Liverpool, winning for Liverpool and winning games is the best thing that could happen to you.
‘I think this is the best club in the world when you win something and the worst club in the world when you lose.
‘So you better win next year.’
Having led Liverpool to the Premier League title in his first season, Slot has come under pressure following an underwhelming campaign.
The Reds suffered quarter-final exits in both the Champions League and FA Cup, while they currently lie fifth in the Premier League heading into the final day.
Salah had last week caused controversy with a social media post that appeared to take aim at Slot, as he called for the return of Jurgen Klopp’s ‘heavy metal football’.
He wrote: ‘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.
Slot paid tribute to Salah and Andy Robertson ahead of their final matches for Liverpool
‘Nothing makes me prouder than that. 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.
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‘Winning some games here and there is not what Liverpool should be about. All teams win games.
‘Liverpool will always be a club that means a great deal to me and to my family. I want to see it succeed for long after I have moved on. As I’ve always said, qualifying to next season’s Champions League is the bare minimum and I will do everything I can to make that happen.’
Slot said on Friday that he will only remember the goal-scoring machine version of Salah, despite their disputes this season.
‘100 per cent last season, he said the most special thing I have won was last season’s Premier League title,’ he said.
‘Now I can safely say that was the most special thing I have won in my life so I will remember that and how important he was in that season for the club and as a result also for me with all the goals he scored.’
