Liverpool sent new Mohamed Salah U-turn verdict as ex-team-mate offers insight

The 33-year-old will look for a new club after heading to the World Cup with Egypt, despite having put pen to paper on a fresh two-year contract with the Reds just 12 months prior. Many have pointed to a breakdown in his relationship with Slot as the primary motivation behind his departure.

The Dutchman has since also vacated his post at Liverpool, having been dismissed in favour of Andoni Iraola. However, former Reds defender Lovren does not believe this development will prompt Salah to have a change of heart.

Speaking to WinWin, the Croatian said: "No, it's over. Mo has a big personality too. I don't know, if they hadn't announced all of that, all the details of leaving, saying thank you and goodbye and saying goodbye, maybe yes. But now it's difficult."

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Despite maintaining that Salah remains firmly headed for the exit, Lovren believes the winger could well have opted to stay had he been aware that Slot would be departing.

"Yes, he would have stayed 100 percent. Believe me, he would have stayed 100 percent, I know that. But the timing was bad," he added.

"Only a fool would say we no longer need him. Only a fool would say that. I mean, to say you don't need Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, when he can still perform at the highest level for another two or three years, then we have a problem understanding football."

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Salah is yet to reveal his next destination following his departure from Liverpool. Yet the Egyptian broke his silence as far back as December regarding his strained relationship with Slot.

"I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don't have any relationship," Salah said at the time. "I don't know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn't want me in the club.

"I can't believe ... I'm sitting on the bench for 90 minutes. The third time on the bench, I think for the first time in my career. I'm very, very disappointed. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. Now I'm sitting on the bench and I don't know why.

"It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame."

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