Gary Neville has Arne Slot theory after Mohamed Salah's bombshell announcement

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Gary Neville believes Arne Slot could come under even more pressure following Mohamed Salah's announcement that he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season

Gary Neville feels Arne Slot could come under more pressure after Mohamed Salah's announcement(Image: Stick to Football)

Gary Neville has suggested that Arne Slot is set to come under more pressure for his job at Liverpool following Mohamed Salah’s announcement that he will be leaving the club.

Salah is set to bring down the curtain on his time at Anfield at the end of the current season, having reached an agreement with Liverpool to waive the final year of his contract and leave the club on a free transfer.

The decision comes after speculation has followed Salah over his future for the past few months amid what has been a difficult season for the Egyptian, and given his outburst against the club back in December after being dropped.

His announcement comes as Slot comes under increased pressure over his job, with Liverpool continuing to struggle in its efforts to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

The Reds were booed after the recent draw with Tottenham, and they look as though they will have to rely on the Premier League earning another spot at Europe’s top table, given they sit five points off fourth-placed Aston Villa with just seven games remaining.

What’s more, speculation is increasing over the prospect of Xabi Alonso replacing Slot, although Liverpool is thought to still be backing the Dutchman. Nevertheless, former Manchester United captain Neville has questioned what impact Salah’s impending departure will have on his head coach.

Mohamed Salah hit out at Arne Slot earlier in the season after being dropped(Image: Getty Images)

"I suspect Liverpool and Arne Slot are in a position whereby Mo Salah’s said, 'Look, I'd like to announce it,'" Neville said on the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast.

“They’re in the very difficult position of, if we say no and announce it at the end of the season, they’re going to p— him off and he’s going to be walking round unhappy.

“For Liverpool, is it the right time now?

"And for Arne Slot, what does it do for him? He’s the guy at the moment that is under pressure.

“I understand why he’s under pressure, obviously because there’s been a massive drop-off, but he won the league seven months ago, and I would have thought that Liverpool, in the way that you [Jamie Carragher] always talked about Liverpool treating their managers as a god, that they would be more thinking that the players have let him down than he’s the instigator.

“For the first time, it feels like Liverpool are turning on the manager over the players, which is something that is surprising to watch it from the outside.

“What does it do for Arne Slot? Does it put more pressure on him now for the rest of the season if he’s got Mo Salah leaving, he’s willing to rip up his contract, he’s obviously not playing that well.”