Steven Gerrard has revealed he spoke with Mohamed Salah on the phone following the winger’s explosive interview earlier this season.
The Liverpool legend said he had a frank phone call with Salah at the time of the interview.
Salah’s Disagreement with Arne Slot
Salah had accused the club of throwing him under the bus and claimed his relationship with head coach Arne Slot had broken down following the 3-3 draw at Leeds United in December.
The Reds have been nowhere near the level they were during Arne Slot’s first season in charge when Salah scored 29 goals and registered eight assists in the title-winning campaign. He was rewarded for that fine form with a two-year extension but has since announced he’ll depart the club this summer, midway through his contract.
Speaking on The Overlap, Gerrard said he was not surprised by the 33-year-old’s decision to leave the club. He stated, “I think it’s in everyone’s best interests. I think the timing is right in my opinion.”
Gerrard added, “Especially after the – he’s obviously had a disagreement with the manager. I don’t know at what level but he’s done the interview which I think he’ll regret further down the line.”
Gerrard also said, “Liverpool as a football club only wanted to give Mo Salah one year. Rather than the two, but because he had such an outstanding season and his numbers were great, they have given him a two-year.”
“For me, I only ever saw it as a one-year at that level. We’ve all played in those years and I just think for everyone, it’s in everyone’s [best] interest for it to end, but also end on Mo Salah’s terms.”
Gerrard’s Advice to Salah
Gerrard revealed, “I spoke to him around that interview at the time and sort of said to him ‘don’t do what you’ve done and go under a cloud.’ I spoke to him direct.”
He added, “He texts me now and again, or I text him, more to do if I’m going somewhere with Leo. Just so Leo can see him. I’m not close to him, but it gave me the opportunity to say ‘You’ve been here for eight or nine years, you’ve come here and got this legacy. Just go on your terms the right way’.”
When asked how Salah responded to that conversation, Gerrard revealed: “Still a little emotional from the incident. He was sub and in and out of the team at the time. He was upset.”
“But, I just thought it would have been a shame if he’d left in January and just left.”
Salah’s Potential January Exit
Gary Neville asked Gerrard if it was a consideration at the time and whether he could resonate with Salah, the former Reds midfielder said: “I’m not sure, I don’t know [if Salah could have left in January].”
“I understand both sides of it. Now that I’ve done a bit of managing myself, I understand both sides of it. I had a similar thing with Brendan [Rodge
Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.