The tributes have already begun to pour in for Mohamed Salah, as we now enter into the final month of the Egyptian’s esteemed nine-year career at Liverpool.
When Mohamed Salah first stepped foot onto Anfield soil in 2017, nobody would have had a clue as to how much of a seismic impact he would have at Liverpool over the several years to follow.
At the time of writing, the 33-year-old attacker has 257 goals next to his name for Arne Slot‘s men, across 440 games, with an additional 120 assists also chucked in for good measure.
With a trophy cabinet boasting two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy, Salah has lived the dream as a modern-day titan for this historic club. However, that dream is fast approaching its conclusion, as he has opted to move on to pastures new at the end of the season.
It is yet to be confirmed where the Reds veteran will next call home, but the Premier League will be losing an undisputed icon when he does go, that’s for sure, with Liverpool fans hopeful they’ll get one more goal out of their beloved servant before the season is out.
At the moment, he is nursing a hamstring injury, but positive developments do indicate that he will feature in some capacity in May, as his potential last-ever game for the Reds falls onto the calendar at the end of May versus Brentford.
In the build-up to this emotional farewell, Salah would sat down with Sky Sports to hear several heartfelt tributes dished out to him from the likes of Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, and Adam Lallana, as a near-decade association with the Merseyside giants nears ever closer to its conclusion.
The heartfelt tributes Salah received from Liverpool faces
Salah’s face immediately lit up when he saw Klopp’s smile on the screen.
After all, a staggering 301 of his Liverpool goal contributions would fall under the German’s memorable reign, with his ex-boss hailing him as a “special” individual to have worked alongside.
He said, glowingly: “It was my pleasure and absolute honour to work with you. It was a pleasure as well. Not every minute, but most of the time. And you remember when we came together, I said, let’s create a special story and let’s make sure that when we see each other in 10, 15, 20 years time and look back, we cannot avoid a smile.”
“And I have that smile when I think of all the time together. And yeah, just super happy and thankful that I was part of the whole journey for a while and all the best for all what’s coming up.”
“There are still a few good years to come and yeah, have a great time together… So enjoy. See you. Bye!”
Alongside Klopp, both Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who have been first-team regulars next to Salah for most of his Liverpool journey, paid their own tributes.
Alisson, who should be back to full fitness soon, like the Egyptian, said: “Thank you my friend for all the memories, all the achievements and all the trophies you make me win.”
Alexander-Arnold also paid his own tribute, as he tries to forge a career at Real Madrid: “I’ve always said Stevie’s the No. 1, but I would put them both in the No. 1 spot now for sure.”
Further sincere tributes would flood in from the likes of Lallana, James Milner, and Jordan Henderson from bygone Liverpool teams, with Henderson stating: “As time went on, his confidence grew and the mentality around that was really where I seen him set himself apart from everyone.”
There was also time for Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai, who will hope to line up alongside the injury-stricken number 11 on the final day, with the much-loved Scotsman also leaving after the Bees clash, having held his own long-standing affinity with the Anfield giants.
Robertson emotionally said: “I’ve took so much from you. You’ve gave me some of the highest highs of my life.”
It wasn’t just those with Anfield connections who felt the need to deliver homages to the Liverpool great, with Pep Guardiola even chiming in, alongside various opposition players who tussled with Salah over the years in the high intensity of the Premier League.
The wider tributes handed to Salah
Guardiola often comes across as steely and emotionless, but even the serial winner would take time out to wish Salah the very best, post-Liverpool, when recollecting the number of title challenges Manchester City and the Salah-led Reds have had over the years.
He said earnestly: “He was a headache. Salah, Robertson, all these players deserve my huge respect.”
Referred to as a “killer” on the pitch by current Arsenal title chaser Declan Rice, too, even Erling Haaland – who is often noted for his superhuman ability in front of goal – would further acknowledge the devastating firepower of the 33-year-old.
The Norwegian goal machine would humbly state: “To compete with him has been amazing and I’m lucky to have his shirt at home.”
Finishing with more tributes from the likes of Eden Hazard, it’s clear that the much-loved number 11 hasn’t just touched the Liverpool masses, but he has also captivated the wider footballing world.
His playing days aren’t over just yet, as he will seek out a new club to call home post-Liverpool, but he will always be synonymous with Anfield long after the final day game versus Brentford.
