Mohamed Salah has opened up on his impending Liverpool departure, citing “behind the scenes” issues and a desire for peace.
Liverpool fans everywhere would have been fearing the absolute worst when Mohamed Salah took in the raucous Anfield applause mid-way through the Reds 3-1 win over Crystal Palace, after he went down with a worrying injury niggle.
Thankfully, while many feared it would be a season-ending injury, news has since come out that the 33-year-old will be back before the campaign is over, as he nurses his hamstring injury, so he can have a proper farewell.
Slot will hope Liverpool won’t be too consumed by Salah’s absence, as an important run-in of games lies ahead.
Indeed, he had looked a reenergised figure before going down versus the Eagles, as he scored against both Fulham and Everton in back-to-back Premier League contests.
It will be an emotional final day when the reality sinks in that Salah’s 440-game stay at Anfield is officially over, with a crazy 257 goals and 122 assists next to his name, alongside a decorated trophy cabinet, making him one of the very best to ever pull on Liverpool red.
Salah’s unbelievable Liverpool career stats:
| Category | Total number |
| Appearances | 440 |
| Goals | 257 |
| Assists | 122 |
| Total | 379 |
| Trophies won | 9 |
Yet, everything must come to an end eventually in the beautiful game, and the much-loved Merseyside servant looks to have his reasons for departing, which were vaguely disclosed in a recent sit-down interview with Sky Sports.
Salah’s revealing interview with Sky Sports
At one point this season, it did look as if Salah would end his long-lasting Liverpool legacy on a very sour note.
Publicly falling out with Slot back in December when stating that he felt as if “the club has thrown me under the bus” after being dropped consistently by the Dutchman, it looked as if the Reds veteran might desert the club mid-season.
Thankfully, his fractured relationship with Slot has since improved, but it’s clear there are still many factors at play as to why the magical number 11 wanted to bring his 440-game spell to a shock close at the end of the season, ripping up his contract in the process.
He said, when speaking to Sky Sports: “I think personally I’m not going into details, I’m not trying to play around—but last season I wasn’t ready to go because you break the records, you win the Premier League, it’s not right.
“But now with everything going on in the season I won’t go into details it’s like, ‘You know what, it’s time. I want to go.’
“And of course there is a lot of things behind the scenes people don’t know about it, but yeah, I think now is the time. I have peace with it.’”
It sounds as if Salah believes he has run his course with Liverpool, as the Reds have gone from being an exhilarating watch under Jurgen Klopp, always looking to be in an intense title fight, to a drab spectacle under Slot, who are content with just clinching a Champions League spot.
Irrespective of his comments, Salah will be desperate to get back on a pitch for Slot and Co. before the season is over, with the ex-Feyenoord boss no doubt disappointed he can’t have the much-loved winger available for the Manchester United showdown.
Salah has a crazy 13 goals and six assists next to his name versus the Red Devils over the years, so losing a player of that acumen will be a sickener for the Dutchman, who is still under pressure in the Anfield dug-out, as per ex-United defender Gary Neville.
While he can’t grab another goal against one of his favourite sides to strike fear into, Salah will be hopeful he can score one last time for his beloved Reds before the season is out, as his football does the talking, again, as opposed to his comments in interviews.
