Thierry Henry Reveals His ‘Love’ for Liverpool Fans’ Reaction to Mo Salah Falling Out with Arne Slot

Why Anfield’s Response to the Salah–Slot Saga Impressed an Arsenal Legend

Thierry Henry has seen it all. Dressing rooms full of egos, managers under pressure, fans turning in an instant, and clubs tearing themselves apart over moments of tension. That is why, when Mohamed Salah’s very public falling out with Liverpool head coach Arne Slot erupted into the headlines, the former Arsenal icon paid close attention. And what he saw at Anfield, Henry admits, genuinely impressed him.

Speaking recently, Henry revealed his “love” for the way Liverpool supporters handled a delicate situation involving one of the club’s greatest modern players. Rather than choosing sides or fuelling division, the Anfield crowd did something that is increasingly rare in modern football: they backed both the manager and the player, understood the emotions involved, and helped “squash it and move on”.

For Henry, that reaction said far more about Liverpool as a football institution than any post-match interview or press conference ever could.

Anfield Rallies Around a Modern Legend

The timing could hardly have been more sensitive. Liverpool were coming off a turbulent week dominated by Mohamed Salah’s explosive comments after a dramatic 3-3 draw with Leeds United. Named on the bench for the third consecutive league match, the Egyptian forward stopped in the mixed zone and spoke for seven uninterrupted minutes, laying bare his frustration and sense of betrayal.

It was raw, emotional, and completely unfiltered.

Just days later, Liverpool returned to Anfield to face Brighton. When Joe Gomez was forced off injured, Salah was summoned from the bench. As he rose to warm up, the Kop stood as one. Applause rippled around the stadium, growing louder with every step he took. Whatever disagreements existed behind closed doors, the message from the stands was crystal clear: Mohamed Salah was still one of theirs.

Within minutes of coming on, Salah reminded everyone why. He slid a perfectly weighted assist into the path of Hugo Ekitike, sealing a crucial 2-0 win that steadied Liverpool’s season and eased the pressure that had been building relentlessly.

For Henry, that moment was powerful.

“We’re talking about one of the greatest in the Premier League,” he said. “I was so happy with the reception of the Liverpool fans because they also understood him.”

The Outburst That Sparked the Storm

To understand why the fans’ reaction mattered so much, you have to revisit what Salah actually said. After the Leeds draw, the Egyptian did not hide his disappointment.

“I can’t believe it, I’m very, very disappointed,” he admitted. “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.”

He spoke of promises made in the summer that, in his view, had not been kept. He questioned why his relationship with Arne Slot had suddenly cooled. Most strikingly, he suggested he felt pushed aside, even scapegoated.

“It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus,” Salah said. “That is how I am feeling.”

For some supporters and pundits, the issue was not the emotion, but the platform. Airing such grievances publicly, in the middle of a title push, risked destabilising the entire squad.

Henry understood that concern.

“I understand the emotion and frustration,” he explained. “I used to be a player, so I understand Mo Salah. I just didn’t understand how and when he did it.”

Thierry Henry’s Perspective: Empathy Without Excuses

Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion – Premier League

Henry’s reaction was nuanced, as you might expect from someone who carried the weight of Arsenal for nearly a decade. He didn’t dismiss Salah’s feelings, nor did he defend the timing outright. Instead, he framed it as something deeply human.

Elite footballers live for rhythm, trust, and recognition. When that balance is disrupted, emotions spill over. Henry admitted he had been there himself.

But what stood out most to him was not the argument, nor even the reconciliation inside the club. It was the supporters’ response.

“I didn’t have any doubt about it,” Henry said of Salah’s return. “Liverpool fans understood him.”

Rather than booing or turning their backs, the Anfield crowd chose empathy. They recognised Salah’s contribution, his history, and his emotional investment in the club.

Fans Strike the Perfect Balance Between Manager and Star

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the whole saga is how Liverpool fans supported both sides of the conflict at different moments.

Earlier in the week, during a high-pressure Champions League clash against Inter, Anfield rang out with songs for Arne Slot. It was a clear show of faith in the manager, at a time when criticism was growing and questions were being asked about his handling of senior players.

Days later, those same fans sang Mohamed Salah’s name.

Henry loved that balance.

“What I love about the situation,” he said, “is that in the Inter game, the Liverpool fans sang the name of Arne Slot, and at the weekend they sang the name of Mo Salah.”

In Henry’s eyes, this was football support at its most mature. It wasn’t about picking a hero and a villain. It was about recognising that both manager and player matter, and that unity often matters more than being right.

“They did what they had to do,” Henry added. “Let’s squash it and move on.”

Arne Slot Under the Microscope

The episode has also shone a spotlight on Arne Slot and the realities of managing at a club like Liverpool. Henry admitted he expected turbulence, just not quite in this form.

“I was expecting this last year,” he said. “I thought maybe Arne Slot was going to struggle.”

Instead, Slot has impressed tactically and in results, but this situation highlighted another side of elite management: handling egos, legends, and the relentless glare of the press.

Henry praised Slot’s honesty in interviews and acknowledged that dealing with players like Salah comes with the territory.

“When you are at Liverpool,” he said, “that’s just how it is.”

Jamie Carragher Calls for Perspective

Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion – Premier League

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also weighed in, offering a more reflective take after initially branding Salah’s comments a “disgrace”.

Carragher urged Salah to step back and consider the bigger picture.

“He deserves a guard of honour,” Carragher said. “He deserves a mosaic in the Kop. He deserves to be able to bring his family on the pitch and celebrate what he’s done as a Liverpool player.”

Rather than letting the dispute overshadow everything, Carragher encouraged Salah to think about what could still lie ahead: a glorious farewell, or even walking out in a Champions League final with his teammates.

“The worst thing that’s going to happen,” Carragher said, “is I get this big send-off. The best thing that could happen is I am walking out with my team-mates in Budapest for the Champions League final.”

What Comes Next for Salah and Liverpool?

For now, Salah has stepped away from the immediate spotlight, joining Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. His absence gives Liverpool breathing room, but questions about his long-term future remain.

Links to Saudi Arabia refuse to disappear, despite Salah signing a two-year extension last season. The relationship with Slot, while outwardly calmer, will continue to be scrutinised.

Yet if this episode has shown anything, it is the strength of the bond between Salah and the Liverpool faithful.

Thierry Henry saw it clearly. In a moment that could have divided a club, Liverpool supporters chose unity. They backed their manager when he needed it. They stood by their star when he returned. And in doing so, they reminded everyone why Anfield remains one of football’s most special places.

In Henry’s words, they did exactly what football sometimes forgets how to do: they understood, supported, and moved on.