Arne Slot has declined to reveal whether Mohamed Salah will feature in Sunday's home match against Brentford, a game that could serve as the Egypt forward's farewell appearance at Anfield after nine years with Liverpool.

Salah, 33, is set to leave the club at the end of the season. His departure has been accompanied by friction, after a social media post last weekend in which he appeared to criticise Liverpool's style of play under Slot.

"I never say anything about team selection," Slot told reporters when pressed on whether Salah would be involved against Brentford — a fixture Liverpool need at least a point from to secure UEFA Champions League qualification.

A difficult end to a legendary chapter

The tension between Slot and Salah is not new. Earlier this season, Salah was dropped from the squad for a UEFA Champions League away fixture against Inter Milan after publicly stating that his relationship with Slot had broken down.

Asked how he felt about Salah's latest comments, Slot kept his focus firmly on the sporting objective.

"I don't think it is that important what I feel about it. What is important is that we qualify for the Champions League on Sunday and I prepare Mo and the whole team in the best possible way for the game."

Slot also reflected on Liverpool's frustrating defeat to Aston Villa in their previous outing, which left qualification unresolved heading into the final round. "I was very disappointed after our loss against Villa because a win would have given us qualification for the Champions League which we didn't get," he said. "Now there's one game to go which is a vital one for us as a club."

Slot looks ahead to rebuilding

Despite the turbulence surrounding Salah's exit, Slot stressed that both men share the same fundamental goal. "We both want what's best for the club, we both want the club to be successful and that's the main aim," he said.

The Liverpool manager also acknowledged that the team's performances this season have not always met his own standards, and pointed to evolution as the priority going forward.

"I have to find a way to evolve this team now and definitely in the summer and in the upcoming season to be successful again, and to play a brand of football that I like. And if I like it then the fans will like it as well because I haven't liked a lot of the way we played this season."

Slot added that he hopes the style Liverpool develop will be one that even Salah — wherever he ends up — can appreciate. "We try to evolve the team in a way that we can compete but definitely also play the brand of football, the style of football the fans, I, and hopefully Mo if he's somewhere else at that moment in time will like as well," he said.

Sunday's match against Brentford at Anfield carries enormous weight — both as a potential farewell for one of Liverpool's greatest ever players, and as a decisive moment in the club's Champions League hopes.