Arne Slot addresses Mohamed Salah Liverpool selection controversy ahead of Brentford fixture

Arne Slot has stopped short of confirming if Mohamed Salah will feature for Liverpool in Sunday's Premier League final-day encounter with Brentford.

The Reds missed a golden opportunity to lock down a top-five finish last Friday after succumbing to a disappointing 4-2 defeat away at Aston Villa.

Despite a turbulent and inconsistent domestic campaign on the pitch, the Merseyside outfit realistically require only a single point to guarantee elite European football for next term.

However, the build-up to the crucial encounter has been heavily overshadowed by the continuation of an explosive internal dispute involving legendary forward Mohamed Salah.

The Egypt international is set to conclude his illustrious nine-year spell on Merseyside this summer but his final farewell remains shrouded in immense uncertainty.

Slot refuses to confirm Salah selection for Brentford clash

Speaking to the media ahead of the final day showdown, Slot did not let slip whether Salah would be granted a farewell appearance in front of the Anfield crowd.

The 33-year-old forward published a damning social media post that appeared to openly criticise the manager's tactical style and authority.

"You are doing a lot of assumptions," said the Dutchman via BBC Sport. "First of all, you say that he wants to play that style and then say it is not my style.

"I think Mo was really happy with the style we played last year, as it led to us winning the league. Football has changed, football has evolved, but we both want what is best for Liverpool and that is for us to compete for trophies, which we haven't done this season and which we did last season.

"He and the team – and I was included in that – brought the league title back after five years and we would like to challenge for that again next season and continue to evolve the team. That is my take on it."

The Dutch tactician also dismissed concerns regarding several first-team players liking the controversial post, claiming he is too old to comprehend the inner workings of online interactions.

Dressing room tension threatens Slot's long-term Anfield future

The public friction between the head coach and his star player shows a deeply fractured relationship that has plagued the dressing room throughout the entire campaign.

Salah was previously axed from the travelling squad for a massive Champions League clash against Inter Milan after admitting their communication had completely broken down.

With Michael Edwards believed to be scheduling crucial talks to review the managerial situation, Salah's seeming final show of rebellion severely undermines Slot's long-term position.

Without a doubt, replacing a figure who scored hundreds of goals and delivered major silverware to the club represents an unprecedented challenge for the recruitment team this summer.

If the hierarchy ultimately decide to persist with the former Feyenoord boss, he faces an uphill battle to restore disciplinary standards and win back a disillusioned squad.