Liverpool must return to heavy metal football – Salah

LIVERPOOL, England, May 16, 2026 – Mohamed Salah says Liverpool must return to being a “heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear” after “crumbling” to a defeat at Aston Villawhich left their Champions League hopes in the balance.

Egypt forward Salah, 33, will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after helping the club to six major trophies in nine years at the club, including two Premier League titles and the Champions League.

But, before his final match, the Reds are not yet assured of a top-five finish which would guarantee a place in Europe’s elite club competition next season at the end of a trophyless campaign. newsindata.com

In calling for a return to the high-octane approach of former manager Jurgen Klopp, Salah appeared to criticise head coach Arne Slot by saying their identity under the German, who left in 2024, must be “recovered and kept for good”.

Salah, who has scored 257 goals for Liverpool, said a return to their former way of playing “cannot be negotiable”.

Dutchman Slot said this week that he has “every reason to believe” he will remain in charge at Anfield despite a disappointing season, and the club’s hierarchy have not indicated that they are considering replacing him this summer.

But fan discontent only continued to grow after the 4-2 loss to Aston Villa on Friday night – their 19th defeat of the season – with many supporters in the away end leaving before full-time at Villa Park.

“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. Nothing makes me prouder than that,” Salah said on social media.

“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.”

Salah, who announced his decision to leave Anfield in March, told reporters in December that his relationship with head coach Slot had broken down.

The winger, winner of a record four Premier League Golden Boot awards, scored 29 times in the 2024-25 Premier League as the Reds won the title in Slot’s first season in charge.

But he has been unable to match the heights of last term, finding the net just 12 times in 40 games across all competitions this season before his final game against Brentford next Sunday.

It was under previous manager Klopp that Liverpool were associated with “heavy metal” football – a term the German used to describe his high-energy, counter-pressing style of play.

“Winning some games here and there is not what Liverpool should be about. All teams win games,” Salah said.

“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.”

Below Salah’s post, Liverpool team-mates Curtis Jones and Hugo Ekitike commented with applauding and handshake emojis respectively.

In addition, the post has been liked by team-mates Andrew Robertson, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Wataru Endo, teenage Italian defender Giovanni Leoni and Harvey Elliott, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa.

Former captain Jordan Henderson and defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, key players during Klopp’s tenure, have also shown support for Salah’s words.

Reds left-back Robertson, who will also leave the club this summer, wrote similarly on Instagram: “A performance which sums up our season. A long way short of the levels of this club and what you rightly expect of us.”

On a personal note, he added: “But I can only thank you for the last nine years of travelling up and down the country and all over the world packing out away ends wherever we go! Will see you next week for one last time.”

Former Feyenoord boss Slot has suggested the summer transfer window will be critical for him.

Speaking about supporter frustration after Friday’s defeat, he said: “I think then they are underestimating what a window can do, what a new start can do, and I think we know quite well what to improve.

“I think one of the things we have to improve is also very, very, very obvious, and I would have preferred not to talk about it here, but you’re actually almost forcing me to.

“If you miss nine players that can start a game of football, and almost all of them are starters for us or have been for large part of the season, then if you add that to what you can improve in a window and add that to players that are playing for the second season in the Premier League, that will automatically lead to much more.”

Analysis – ‘Salah’s words will resonate across fanbase’

Aadam Patel

Football reporter

Scroll down Salah’s social media and you will realise that this kind of statement on his own channels is rare.

He only posts on social media on the odd occasion, for example, when a team-mate leaves or when he wants to deliver a message to the Liverpool fans.

With just a week to go of his Liverpool career, this is a clear indication in terms of where he thinks the club is heading.

It is a damning verdict of what he thinks of Liverpool‘s current style of play under Slot and the use of a term like “heavy metal football” is enough to indicate that he wants more change at Anfield.

Of course, Salah will not be part of that change but given what he has done for Liverpool, his words will resonate across the fanbase.

Before his mixed zone interview at Leeds in December, where he said his relationship with Slot had broken down, the understanding from those close to Salah is that a statement issued in a similar way to this one was being considered as an option in order to control the message.

In the end, Salah decided to opt for the mixed zone interview where his passion came out.

This time around, Salah has chosen a more considered social-media statement.

And judging by the comments from players such as Jones and Ekitike on his post and the likes from fellow Liverpool team-mates, he is not alone with his thoughts.

The post Liverpool must return to heavy metal football – Salah appeared first on Capital Sports.

Forte de son succès acquis lors de la manche aller (1-0), l'USM Alger abordera avec confiance la finale retour de la Coupe de la Confédération africaine, prévue samedi soir au stade international du Caire (Egypte) face au Zamalek SC (19h00, heure algérienne), avec l'ambition d'inscrire à nouveau, son nom au palmarès de l'épreuve.

The post Coupe de la Confédération : l'USMA à 90 minutes du sacre ! appeared first on Football Algérien - DZFOOT.COM.

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and his players appear not to have learned from their struggles this season.

Whenever the Buccaneers have failed to score, it has often been against disciplined sides with little interest in attacking football.

Teams willing to sit deep, absorb pressure and frustrate Pirates have repeatedly exposed the same weakness in Ouaddou’s side.

The Soweto giants struggled to break down both Stellenbosch FC and Marumo Gallants in cup finals earlier this season, needing extra time on both occasions to secure victory.

Had either match gone to penalties, there is every chance Pirates could have ended up on the losing side.

Ouaddou out of ideas as Pirates struggle

Against Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit Casric Stars, Pirates were not as fortunate. The lower-division side defended resolutely, frustrated the Buccaneers for long periods and eventually knocked them out of the Nedbank Cup via a penalty shootout.

Saturday’s goalless draw against Durban City was another example of the same problem. Needing a win to move within touching distance of the Betway Premiership title, Pirates once again failed to find a way through a stubborn defence.

It raises serious questions about whether Ouaddou has truly addressed one of his side’s biggest tactical shortcomings. Time and again, when opponents employ a low block, Pirates seem to run out of ideas in the final third.

Ouaddou has two trophies with Pirates but…

That weakness could yet cost them the league title if Orbit College adopt similar tactics in the decisive final match.

Pirates have looked entertaining and free-scoring at times this season, but under pressure, creativity and composure have often deserted them when it mattered most.

Can Pirates stilll win the league?

Orlando Pirates missed a golden opportunity to seize control of the Betway Premiership title race after being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Durban City at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.

With the league now heading into a dramatic final weekend, Orlando Pirates remain under immense pressure as their hopes of ending a league drought stretching back to the 2011/12 season hang in the balance.

Orlando Pirates Fail to Deliver at Crucial Moment

The equation was simple for the Buccaneers: Win and move to the summit and all-but secure the title for the first time in 5 110 days.

Instead, they stumbled against a disciplined Durban City side that arrived with a clear plan and executed it perfectly.

Although Orlando Pirates controlled possession from the outset, they struggled to translate dominance into meaningful chances.

Durban City, chasing a top-eight finish rather than the title, sat deep, defended resolutely, and rarely looked troubled.

Orlando Pirates enjoyed 76% possession in the first half and earned an astonishing 10 corners before the break – the highest total by any team in a single half this season – yet failed to carve out clear opportunities.

Their attacking play often relied on hopeful long-range efforts that barely tested goalkeeper Fredrick Asare.

Nervy Performance Under Pressure

As the match wore on, tension grew around Orlando Amstel Arena.

Orlando Pirates appeared hesitant, lacking the cutting edge expected of a side chasing championship glory.

Their best moments came in the second half.

Relebohile Mofokeng forced Asare into a strong save from a free-kick, while Oswin Appollis wasted a difficult opportunity from a tight angle.

Despite late pressure, a combination of solid goalkeeping and wasteful finishing ensured the hosts remained scoreless.

‘One of those afternoons’

It felt like one of those afternoons where Orlando Pirates could have played another 90 minutes and still failed to find a breakthrough.

The draw may prove decisive in the title race.

Mamelodi Sundowns have effectively been handed a lifeline, while Orlando Pirates now head into their final fixture needing victory against a desperate Orbit College side.

Anything less than three points will see Mamelodi Sundowns secure a ninth consecutive league crown.

Should Orlando Pirates fall short, attention will inevitably turn to costly dropped points earlier in the campaign – especially home draws against Siwelele FC, Richards Bay, and now Durban City.

Durban City’s Remarkable Season Continues

For Durban City, the point all but guarantees a top-eight finish in what has been a remarkable campaign for the promoted club.

Having already captured the Nedbank Cup and secured a place in next season’s MTN8, their debut top-flight season has exceeded expectations.

Survival may have been the original target, but Durban City have emerged as one of the division’s biggest success stories.

With one match remaining, the Betway Premiership title race is set for a dramatic finale.

Updated Betway Premiership standings

The Vodacom Bulls’ win over Benetton, which secured a home Vodacom URC quarter-final, may have come at a cost after a key player suffered a foot injury.

Coach Johan Ackermann said No 8 Cameron Hanekom was the biggest fitness concern following the 45-19 victory.

“We have to scan on Monday and make sure it’s not serious because his foot is obviously sore now,” Ackermann said.

“In the assessment before the game, everybody, including Cameron himself, felt he could play, so that’s why we didn’t make a change.

“But he’s a bit sore now, so we just have to make sure there’s no damage.”

REPORT: Bulls book home quarter-final

Ackermann said there were also a few other injury niggles, although he expected most players to recover during the week’s break.

“Ruan [Nortjé] has a little ankle twist and Canan [Moodie] took a knock on the shoulder, but hopefully with the week off they’ll be fine,” he said.

While pleased with the result and five-point log haul which ensured their place in the top four, Ackermann admitted the Bulls produced too many “soft moments” that allowed Benetton back into the game.

“I thought we started well and that probably saved us,” he said. “Then we started making silly mistakes and suddenly the momentum kept swinging.

“At one stage it was only seven points, but credit to the players because they found a way to squeeze the opposition out.”

JP: Balance of Sharks group is beautiful

Ackermann warned those lapses could prove costly in knockout rugby.

“If you get momentum swings like that in a playoff game, you probably don’t recover,” he said. “Those are the parts we have to fix.”

The Bulls coach was also frustrated by the officiating at scrum time, despite his side clearly dominating the set-piece.

“I felt the second half specifically was inconsistent,” Ackermann said. “If that scrum from Wilco [Louw] isn’t dominance, then I don’t know what is. He was scrumming the guy all the way backwards.

“There were free-kicks where we clearly had dominance, so that was frustrating. But we also have to adapt to what the referee sees.”

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

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