Former Liverpool FC winger Jermaine Pennant has strongly defended Mohamed Salah following the forward’s recent public comments criticising the club’s style of play under manager Arne Slot.
Liverpool’s recent 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa FC in the 37th round of the Premier League has intensified scrutiny around the club’s performances, with the side still yet to secure Champions League qualification.
Following that defeat, Salah posted a statement on his official social media account expressing concern over Liverpool’s tactical identity, suggesting the team had drifted away from its traditional attacking approach.
His comments sparked debate across English football, with some questioning whether it was appropriate for a senior player to publicly challenge the manager. However, Pennant has dismissed that criticism and argued the Egyptian forward was reflecting a wider concern within the club.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Pennant said Salah’s remarks were not controversial but instead echoed the frustrations of supporters.
“What Mohamed Salah said is something every fan feels and would say the same thing. This is not the Liverpool we saw last season, or the last eight years. There are no threats, no attacking spirit, and nobody fears anything in front of them. People come to Liverpool and they control the ball and have possession. This is not down to the players.”
Pennant went further, arguing that Salah’s status at the club gives him both the authority and the responsibility to speak openly about Liverpool’s direction.
“For Mohamed Salah, there is no player bigger than the club, but there is a player bigger than the manager. Unfortunately, Mohamed Salah has spent a much longer time at Liverpool than Arne Slot. Mohamed Salah has won more titles with Liverpool than Arne Slot, so he deserves all this recognition. He is a Liverpool legend. You could say he won the league title single-handedly last season.”
He added that senior players should not be discouraged from expressing concerns if they believe the team is underperforming.
“So he has every right to come out and say: this is not enough, this is not the spirit of Liverpool. He has every right, and this is not blaming Slot, he is telling the truth.”
Pennant also raised broader questions about Liverpool’s current direction and whether the club hierarchy is addressing deeper tactical issues.
He pointed to what he described as inconsistent team selection and players being used outside their natural positions, arguing that this has contributed to a lack of cohesion.
“Week after week we see players playing out of position. You saw Dominic Szoboszlai at right-back, Florian Wirtz on the left and right wings, and in attack.”
According to Pennant, such decisions are limiting the effectiveness of the squad.
“Throughout the season, I haven’t seen a full team of 11 players playing in their primary positions. It’s true that some injuries may be the reason, but there are players on the bench who are capable of playing as a right-back.”
He concluded that Liverpool’s wider tactical identity has drifted away from the aggressive, high-intensity style associated with their most successful periods.
“They don’t pose any attacking threat, they are not aggressive. That’s what the team was built on. You build a great machine, then suddenly you change some of its parts and expect to get the desired results. That simply won’t work.”
The debate adds further pressure on Liverpool as they approach the final stages of the season, with scrutiny increasing on both the manager and the club’s long-term footballing direction.
