'I was Mo Salah's best friend at Liverpool - he would have stayed if Arne Slot was fired earlier'

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Mohamed Salah's former Liverpool teammate Dejan Lovren has suggested the forward may have made a different decision on his future if Arne Slot was fired earlierDejan Lovren believes Mo Salah would've stayed at Liverpool if Slot had been fired earlier(Image: 2020 Getty Images)Former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren has reignited speculation over Mohamed Salah's relationship with Arne Slot, claiming his close friend may have made a different decision about his future had he known the Dutch coach would not remain at Anfield.It proved to be a turbulent final season at Anfield for both Salah and Slot before their respective departures. Throughout the campaign, Salah publicly hinted at tensions with his manager, notably stating that he did not have a relationship with Slot before appearing to make another subtle remark about the Dutchman later in the season.Slot's tenure ended after a disappointing second season in charge, with Liverpool finishing trophyless and only narrowly securing Champions League qualification.The club wasted little time in identifying a successor, moving quickly to appoint Andoni Iraola after reaching a formal agreement with the Spaniard on Thursday.Speaking to Winwin.com, Lovren suggested that Salah may have chosen to remain at Liverpool had the club parted ways with Slot earlier.

I mean, you say you don’t need Mohamed Salah at Liverpool when he can still perform for another two or three years at the highest level, then we have trouble understanding football.”Lovren also spoke candidly about Salah's relationship with Slot, suggesting there were underlying tensions between the pair, making it clear he believed their working relationship was far from ideal.Arne Slot and Salah are both leaving Liverpool in the same summer(Image: Getty)“I don’t think it’s management, I think it’s just one person, and I think it’s just the coach,” he added. “They didn’t have a good relationship, let’s just say it as it is, with [Jurgen] Klopp he had a really beautiful relationship.“They weren’t always perfect, but they knew each other well, let’s say that too, they trusted each other, they loved each other, they did everything on the pitch for Klopp, and Klopp gave him confidence, but (with Slot) everything was the opposite.

It’s that simple, and everyone knows that because when you look at the previous eight or nine seasons, they’ve done really well.“Then in the last season…now people will say, ‘oh yes, but he also did well in the first year that Slot came in,’ but I don’t think it was because I think he just took the team the way it was, as the team was already.“So, as I said, it’s sad, in my opinion, that Mo leaves like this. I never expected that.