'A remarkable nine-year chapter' - Salah to leave Liverpoolpublished at 19:02 GMT 24 March
19:02 GMT 24 March
Image source, Getty Images
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah he will leave the Premier League club at the end of the season, it has been announced.
It will bring to an end a trophy-laden nine years at Anfield, in which the 33-year-old has won two Premier League titles, two League Cups, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the Uefa Super Cup and the FA Cup.
Salah has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances for Liverpool, placing him third on the Reds' all-time leading goalscorers chart, and he will look to end his time on Merseyside on a high - with the Reds still fighting for a top-five Premier League finish, while also looking forward to quarter-finals in both the Champions League and FA Cup.
A club statement read:, external "The forward has reached an agreement with the Reds that will see him close a remarkable nine-year chapter at Anfield.
"Salah expressed his wish to make this announcement to the supporters at the earliest possible opportunity to provide transparency about his future due to his respect and gratitude for them.
"With plenty still left to play for this season, Salah is firmly focused on trying to achieve the best possible finish to the campaign for Liverpool and, therefore, the time to fully celebrate his legacy and achievements will follow later in the year when he bids farewell to Anfield."
Salah to leave Liverpool at end of seasonpublished at 18:55 GMT 24 March
18:55 GMT 24 March
Image source, PA Media
Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.
The Egyptian winger, 33, has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances for the Reds and is third on the club's all-time goalscorers list behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.
A statement from Liverpool said Salah had "reached an agreement" with the club that will "see him close a remarkable nine-year chapter at Anfield".
It added that Salah "expressed his wish to make this announcement to the supporters at the earliest possible opportunity to provide transparency about his future due to his respect and gratitude for them".
Liverpool 'faltering' - does the international break help or hinder?published at 16:12 GMT 24 March
16:12 GMT 24 March
Gary Rose BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Behind the two title-chasers is the race to secure European football for next season.
The two clubs with most to mull over after seeing their top-four hopes dealt a blow are Liverpool and Chelsea.
Arne Slot's side have put up a disappointing title defence this term and even their bid to finish in the Champions League places is faltering, having lost two and drawn one of their three games prior to this international break.
Liverpool's defeat by Brighton on Saturday means they will spend the next few weeks sitting fifth, five points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.
Chelsea, a point further back, are devoid of momentum after four successive losses in all competitions.
The good news for these two faltering sides is fifth is on course to be enough once again to secure Champions League football for next season.
Reds fans, does the international break come at a good time - and if so, why? What does Slot need to focus on before the run-in?
'FA Cup should not be enough to save Slot'published at 12:14 GMT 24 March
12:14 GMT 24 March
Jordan Chamberlain Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
It really is Champions League or bust for Arne Slot.
Not even an FA Cup win should be enough for him to keep his job based on the performances in the Premier League.
Liverpool were, again, horrific in the Saturday lunchtime defeat by Brighton - so slow on the ball, lacking any ideas or creativity and sloppy at the back. It's the story of the season.
And the truth is Liverpool have been playing badly under Slot for 12 months. This time last year, the title was already sewn up, but the performances had dropped.
That could obviously be forgiven - and Slot himself even holidayed in Ibiza before the season was over - but it's been going on for far too long.
Liverpool have multiple brilliant players and almost all of them are off the boil.
You can't change a squad, so sometimes you have to change the manager. Slot's tone in news conferences is so uninspiring - thinly veiled woe-is-me stories every time.
The Paris St-Germain away leg is the first midweek game following the international break. Liverpool might turn up, but if they play like they did against Brighton, they might as well not bother.
'Anfield has turned against Slot - that's when you know things aren't right'published at 08:04 GMT 24 March
08:04 GMT 24 March
Media caption,
Abigail Rudkin from The Anfield Wrap and Redmen TV told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club that Liverpool "need to start looking at other options because it's not working" with Arne Slot.
The Reds are in fifth in the Premier League with 49 points, but the chasing pack for a European spot are less than a handful of points behind and that includes David Moyes' Everton.
"All of it just feels like a mess," Rudkin said. "I don't want to even think about the fixtures we have left to play.
"We've still got Everton away and it's making me sick because they are three points behind us. That's when you know the manager's job should be on the line and the Liverpool fans will start panicking.
"Liverpool need to start looking at other options in terms of a manager because it's not working. I said in the summer that this needed to be a transitional period with a bit of leeway, but from what we are seeing on the pitch and hearing in his press conferences, there's no fight or belief from Arne Slot or the fans.
"The only certainty, in terms of consistency, is that we are going to be having a poor performance with everyone looking confused by what we're trying to do. The Anfield crowd has turned against Slot and that's when you know things aren't right - it's not just those on social media who feel that way.
"None of these players look like they have any fight at all and Slot has had odd decision-making. I can't see how we go on from here.
"Slot doesn't buy into the fans or the club, or even Liverpool because he doesn't live here. There are all these conversations going on among the fans."
'For Liverpool's standards, it has been nowhere near good enough'published at 12:07 GMT 23 March
12:07 GMT 23 March
Image source, PA Media
Former Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast on the reasons for Liverpool's struggles this season: "I think the recruitment is very much responsible - that's not just Arne Slot, that's the club and the people behind the scenes as much as Arne.
"They lost Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold, and don't forget [the death of] Diogo Jota would clearly have had a massive impact on that team.
"It's something people underestimate - how important the team is behind the scenes. Not just off the pitch, he was a top player on the pitch. The amount of times he changed games last season and won it for Liverpool in the last minute, he's a massive loss.
"You mentioned Virgil van Dijk [and a possible drop-off in his performances] but I don't think it's necessarily just him. I think it's the people next to him as well. Milos Kerkez at left-back and Ibrahima Konate - in my opinion, both of those players have been average to say the least.
"If you put Marc Guehi next to Virgil van Dijk this season, I don't think we would be having these conversations.
"It's small margins, but for Liverpool's standards, it has been nowhere near good enough.
"They are still in the Champions League and if they win that, it would have been a successful season.
"They've missed Alisson heavily for a few games and Mohamed Salah hasn't hit the heights, so there are a few reasons there."
He opted for the same approach against Brighton to less success, with width coming from the full-backs rather than wingers.
Slot again started with two strikers with two narrow attacking midfielders behind them in Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz.
In possession, Hugo Ekitike's early injury and Mohamed Salah's absence meant Liverpool lacked players to hold the ball up when they went long - something that worked well to catch Galatasaray in an unsettled shape.
Slot would surely have wanted Liverpool to find the attackers quickly with attacking midfielders nearby to pick up knock-downs. Unable to make the ball stick, however, Liverpool failed to sustain attacking possession.
The roles of Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez as Liverpool's only wide players were demanding and with a short turnaround between games, they struggled to get up and down the flank when the game became end to end.
Out of possession, Liverpool looked to press in a 4-3-1-2 shape. Between Brighton's technical quality, the distances the players had to jump to press and fatigue, Liverpool appeared stretched.
Two strikers pressed Brighton's centre-backs with one of the midfielders marking their defensive midfielder. This meant the left and right central midfielders were tasked with getting out to Brighton's full-backs to press. Ryan Gravenberch was left stranded in the centre of midfield, often positioned fairly deep.
As Brighton progressed up the pitch, this narrow 4-3-1-2 shape left space down the flanks and the hosts, through switches of play, exploited those. Liverpool's midfield failed to shift over quickly enough and Brighton were able to find spare men to play crosses in, under little pressure.
After the game, Slot arrived at the same diagnosis: "Both goals we conceded were crosses from the side. The lead-up to the first goal and the first cross was something we could have prevented."
Trevor: An excellent all-round performance from the whole team. The manager has kept the team together and guided us out of a sticky middle part of the season. Well done, Fabian Hurzeler, for turning it around. As for Danny Welbeck, come on, Thomas Tuchel, wake up and give Danny one last chance at a World Cup!
Phil: As usual, the media were mostly descriptive about how poor Liverpool were, not how good Brighton were. Both goals came from no-nonsense, high, looping crosses - not so easy to defend - and Brighton converted those chances with excellence.
Sarah: Brilliant game! Much better forward movement, more attacking and better-quality crossing. We deserved the win. From threat of relegation to Europe within reach - come on, Brighton!
Henry: Brighton need to keep this momentum going. Welbeck again showing what an asset he is to the club. We do need to bring in a new striker in the summer if possible, though, as we can't keep relying on Danny. The strikers we currently have will hopefully improve with more development and time, but if we really have ambitions to push on we need to stop selling our better players.
Liverpool fans
Anthony: Poor tactician, poor man-manager. It's not just that Liverpool are losing games, it's the style (if you can call it style) that is so slow and ponderous. It is not enjoyable to watch. Once the fans start booing a team, it must spell the end.
Dan: Losing Hugo Ekitike so early didn't help, but far too many wayward passes and individual mistakes. The lack of depth in the squad is really showing and I'll be glad when the season's over. Everton did us a favour, but honestly can't see us getting top five.
Wesley: Awful. Too many positional changes throughout the match, not enough intensity and lapses in concentration. Florian Wirtz looks incredible but doesn't affect the game enough. Andy Robertson needs to play because we need his leadership. Deserved to be beaten. Something needs to change quickly.
Alan: We go on about injuries to our players, but Spurs were decimated by injuries when they played us, and they still played with more power and passion.
'No chance of success' if Reds keep failing to build momentum - Van Dijkpublished at 12:33 GMT 22 March
12:33 GMT 22 March
Image source, Getty Images
Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool have failed to build on a good performance "too many times" this season and "if it keeps happening then there is no chance of success."
The Reds impressed in the 4-0 midweek Champions League win over Galatasaray, but failed to sustain momentum and followed it up by suffering their 10th defeat of the Premier League season - their most since 2015-16 - against Brighton on Saturday.
"I don't think it is the bravery," captain Van Dijk said post-match.
"When Hugo [Ekitike] comes off and you look at the team, there was not a lot of runs in behind. There is not a lot on that side.
"That wasn't the issue why we lost but it changed a bit of our game. When he made changes, the formation changed and the positions changed and then you're asking different things.
"It's a combination of everything but the matter of fact is that we can't build on a good performance that we had midweek. It was a very quick turnaround but that is not an excuse of why we lost.
"It happened too many times and if it keeps happening then there is no chance of success."
Van Dijk stressed form must improve if Arne Slot's side are to finish in the top five.
"If there is still a chance then I am always confident, but we have to do better, of course," he added.
"And if we don't then it is going to be very difficult. Seven more games and tough ones as well, so things have to change for us to deserve that as well."
'Reality is Slot needs answers quickly'published at 11:05 GMT 22 March
11:05 GMT 22 March
Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter
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Liverpool's only goal at the Amex came from a Brighton mistake and, even after going behind again in the second half, Arne Slot said that the Seagulls were more likely to make it 3-1 rather than his side earning a draw.
As ever, it would be hard to pin the blame entirely on the manager but, ultimately, it is his team that are regularly underperforming.
For a man who has always emphasised his desire to play good football, he cannot have enjoyed what he has seen for bulks of this season.
Liverpool were superb in midweek against Galatasaray but have been woeful in their past three Premier League games.
Those 62 hours between Galatasaray and Brighton are gone and it is now about the next fortnight, where most of the Liverpool players will be on international duty. Slot will know that it may well go a long way to defining his future.
"Let's hope the national team coaches help us out by not playing 180 minutes over two games," he pleaded on Match of The Day.
When they come back, Liverpool travel to Manchester City for their FA Cup quarter-final against Pep Guardiola's side before a trip to Paris to take on Paris St-Germain in the same stage of the Champions League. The return leg at Anfield is six days later.
"If they go and play like that in Paris it could be 10-0," said former Liverpool left-back Stephen Warnock on 5 Live.
"That's how bad Liverpool were today. Brighton weren't clinical and tried to walk it in, but PSG will be clinical. It's very, very worrying for Liverpool"
With seven top-flight games left, Liverpool's tally of 10 Premier League defeats this season is already their most since 2015-16.
When BBC Sport asked Slot if it was a worry that his side is making the wrong kind of records, he responded: "Of course. It says a few things.
"First of all, it says what a great team Liverpool have had in the last 10 years and a great manager as well. I could come and tell you all the reasons why we've lost this season 10 times.
"One of them is late goals. Today sums it all up in terms of our injury problems - to go without three great goalscorers [Ekitike, Isak and Salah] is never helpful for any team.
"But it's not my job to make excuses. My job is to find answers and that's what I tried to do again today.
Slot has already conceded that it would be unacceptable if Liverpool are not playing Champions League football next season, even if he stays in the job.
And the reality is that he needs answers quickly or else those unwanted records may no longer be his only worry.
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 10:16 GMT 22 March
10:16 GMT 22 March
Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.
Liverpool analysis: Shambolic title defence continuespublished at 15:37 GMT 21 March
15:37 GMT 21 March
Aadam Patel Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
From the very outset, Liverpool looked all over the place on the south coast.
Arne Slot has not been helped by injuries, with neither Alisson nor Mohamed Salah making the trip down but - despite the short turnaround from Wednesday - the Liverpool boss made just the two enforced changes.
Perhaps the Dutchman made this call with the knowledge that an international break is coming up but, of their 10 Premier League games following a Champions League match this season, Liverpool have won four and lost five.
Slot should know by now that his side struggle after those midweek games and coming away to Brighton is never an easy task.
Losing Hugo Ekitike early on to injury did not help either, though Slot said after that he had a dead leg and could play "tomorrow if he wanted to".
Defensively, they were cut open easily and have now conceded 42 Premier League goals this season, more than in each of their past two campaigns.
The last time Liverpool came here, it was party time after winning the Premier League title. That title defence has been nothing short of shambolic.
Brighton 2-1 Liverpool: What Slot saidpublished at 15:17 GMT 21 March
15:17 GMT 21 March
Media caption,
Liverpool manager Arne Slot speaking to TNT Sports after the 2-1 defeat by Brighton: "First half was an equal game. It was a big blow for us that one of our two strikers that we have available with Hugo [Ekitike] and Alex [Isak] already not here, now the other one has to go off after one or two minutes. That is usually not helpful, especially when you look at how well Hugo played Wednesday. The first half was equal and the second half, Brighton were the better team on the pitch.
On Hugo Ekitike's injury and him looking visibly upset at being taken off: "The players and the fans know that there is only eight games to go to qualify for the Champions League and every game you have to miss is something you are upset about. Him going off and not being able to help the team - it is just a bit of bad luck. It is not like he will be out for three months but it is bad enough that he wasn't able to continue. It was a blow for him and a blow for us."
On Liverpool's 10th defeat of the season: "It is clear that we have lost a lot of points after playing in Europe. I have tried to explain a lot of times already why this is but today we also have to give credit to Brighton. In the second half, they were the better team on the pitch."
On whether games are running out to clinch Champions League football: "That is what I meant before the game. What I thought was, you won't need 24 points to qualify and hopefully I am right because we aren't able to get 24 points anymore. We kept trying, in the second half we were close but they were closer to scoring the third one than we were the second one. Unfortunately it wasn't enough after a week like this."
On the pressure to end the season on a high: "There is always pressure at Liverpool. On me, on the players. That is completely normal. We have qualified for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and the Champions League but in the league we need to make sure that in the end, we qualify for the Champions League. As much as I dislike us losing here today, Brighton away has always been a difficult one and will always be a difficult one as long as they keep bringing in so many good players. But there are other games where we should have picked up more points, like last week against Tottenham. That is far more unacceptable than this. But even away at Brighton, a club like Liverpool should be able to get a result."
Despite playing less than three days ago, Arne Slot makes just the two changes from Liverpool's 4-0 win over Galatasaray. And both are enforced, with Giorgi Mamardashvili and Cody Gakpo coming in for the injured Alisson and Mohamed Salah. Dominik Szoboszlai is set to start down the right in Salah's absence.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Fulham v Burnley" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Everton v Chelsea".
Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool: key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:02 GMT 20 March
19:02 GMT 20 March
Chris Adams BBC Sport journalist
A Brighton and Hove Albion side that seems to have emerged from their mid-season slump hosts Liverpool at the Amex on Saturday (12:30 GMT) aiming to climb into the top half of the table for the first time since early January.
Three wins in their last four have gone some way to counteracting the Seagulls' dreadful winter form, which saw them record just one victory in 13 league games.
Minteh fresh
Yankuba Minteh was the hero last time out at Sunderland, wriggling past Granit Xhaka before slicing an unorthodox cross into the net as the home team appealed for a foul in the build-up.
The 21-year-old Gambia winger was a constant thorn in the side of the Black Cats' defence with his tricky, direct approach and got his just rewards to end a personal 20-game goal drought.
Since signing from Newcastle United in July 2024, Minteh has registered more top-flight goal involvements than any other player aged 21 and under (eight goals, eight assists).
Fabian Hurzeler's side are unbeaten in their last three at home to Liverpool (won two, drawn one) but went down 2-0 at Anfield earlier this season, in part thanks to Hugo Ekitike's opener after just 46 seconds.
While an extreme example, it does highlight how Brighton have struggled to keep it tight in the first half of games this season. They are one of just three sides, along with Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur, to have conceded more goals in the first half of games (19) than they have in the second half (17).
All not lost for Liverpool
A comprehensive win over Galatasaray on Wednesday sent Liverpool through to the last eight of the Champions League and a similar result in East Sussex on Saturday would go some way towards securing Arne Slot's side a place in Europe's elite competition again next season.
Liverpool are fifth in the table, which should be enough to merit a place through the traditional route, although of course they could qualify also by winning the current tournament.
Despite their patchy league form – four wins from 12 in 2026 – strong runs in Europe and the FA Cup mean there is still plenty for the Reds to play for.
Dominik Szoboszlai is making a strong case to be named their player of the season, although there is a school of thought that the Hungary midfielder's versatility has worked against him, as he has often been deployed at right-back because of injuries to the likes of Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong.
He scored from midfield against the Turkish champions and didn't let a defensive role against Tottenham Hotspur last week stop him smashing home a fourth direct free-kick of the season, taking him just one shy of the long-standing Premier League record jointly held by David Beckham and Laurent Robert.
Liverpool's undoing against Spurs was a last-minute leveller from Richarlison, which must have given the Anfield faithful a huge dose of déjà vu.
Slot's side have conceded eight goals in the 90th minute (including stoppage time) in league games this season, with only Leeds United shipping more (nine).
All eight of these goals against have caused the Reds to drop points, resulting in three draws and five defeats.
Sutton's predictions: Brighton v Liverpoolpublished at 18:10 GMT 20 March
18:10 GMT 20 March
Brighton have hit a bit of form but how do you know what to expect from Liverpool at the moment? They are so up and down - will they turn up this week?
Liverpool's standout player this season has been Dominik Szoboszlai, and they are probably looking to him to do something special again here.
I've mentioned before how Brighton fans are not having Fabian Hurzeler, so this run of good results as manager - they have won three of their past four games - has come at a good time.
I was at Anfield in December when Liverpool won 2-0 and Brighton should have got something out of that game. This time, Brighton will beat them.
Image source, Getty Images
