Mohamed Salah has revealed that Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard had a role to play in his Reds exit decision, in a recent interview with TNT Sports.
Much like the shockwave Mohamed Salah sent through the fanbase in March, Steven Gerrard used New Year’s Day 2015 to announce his departure. It was the beginning of the end for a storied era, marking the final chapters of a local hero’s lifelong bond with Anfield
In fact, Steven Gerrard’s identity is so synonymous with Liverpool that he could easily serve as the club’s dictionary definition. Before hanging up his boots, the legendary midfielder amassed a staggering 710 appearances for the Reds, directly contributing to 342 goals through his scoring and playmaking.
Salah is held in the same light as the one-time Champions League winner, that’s for sure, with Trent Alexander-Arnold even saying so when paying tribute to his former teammate, in the build-up to the number 11 leaving for good in May.
Deciding to leave Anfield was undoubtedly a difficult and deeply personal choice for Mohamed Salah. However, the 33-year-old winger recently made the surprising revelation that Steven Gerrard actually helped him navigate the decision.
During a sit-down interview with TNT Sports, the two club icons discussed the details of a private dinner at Salah’s home, where Gerrard’s advice to “leave on your terms” through the “big door” gave Salah the clarity he needed to finally come to terms with his departure.
Salah’s tell-all interview with Gerrard
Speaking on behalf of TNT Sports’ The Breakdown Series, Salah provided plenty of insight into his dramatic decision to leave Liverpool after nearly a decade, with the one-time Roma attacker even calling over Gerrard to his home, for his say on the matter, having been through similar himself.
He said: “People didn’t know you came to my house, we had a good conversation. You said your opinion and I really appreciate it. I am glad I am leaving now through the big door.
“That is something you mentioned to me, just leave on your terms, I still remember those words. I am happy about it. Everything that is going on this season makes me think, “No it’s time to go”.’
Muted on what has occurred this season that has made him want to depart, with a previous falling out with Arne Slot potentially one of these factors, the 33-year-old has also opened up about what he believes he can offer post-Liverpool, as he is deep into the twlight years of his career.
Despite being 33, the long-tenured Reds servant has shown no signs of slowing down; rather than gathering cobwebs, he has sparkled this season—most notably with a clinical breakaway strike against Everton, before injury struck against Crystal Palace.
When speaking to Gerrard, Salah reiterated that he still has a “lot to give”, despite leaving Merseyside behind: “Honestly physically I feel I have a lot to give. I played many games this season. I haven’t decided what I am going to do yet, I have a lot of good options. Physically I feel fine, I feel what I did over the years paid off, I feel good.”
‘I will see what is best for me. For sure, the injury is fine. I will hopefully be back (before Brentford).”
Stating too that “he didn’t become old overnight”, the hope will be that he brushes off his hamstring knock and fires in one last strike on the final day of the season when Brentford comes to town.
He has made a remarkably quick return to the AXA Training Centre; the winger is already back in training and targeting the upcoming fixture against Brentford to make his comeback.
Unselfishly, too, he used his interview with Gerrard to propose a potential farewell for Jordan Henderson on the final day, with the 114-time England international even gracing the Anfield turf with the current Bees midfielder briefly.
He said: “You played with him, you know how much he is passionate and he loves the club, so I really wish the club would do something for him and the fans can do something special for him, because this is Liverpool and we do it this way.”
This would make an already emotional final day skyrocket in sentimentality, as two Reds greats potentially clash against each other at Anfield, with Salah set for a deafening reception when he hopefully lines up for Slot’s men one last time at their famous home.
