Steven Gerrard has revealed he reached out to Mohamed Salah following the Liverpool forward’s explosive comments earlier this season.
Salah had expressed frustration in December after being left out during a draw with Leeds, claiming he felt “thrown under the bus” and suggesting there were issues behind the scenes at Liverpool, including a lack of relationship with manager Arne Slot.
Although the forward later returned to regular involvement, it has since been confirmed he will leave the club at the end of his contract this summer.
Speaking about the situation on the Overlap, Gerrard said: “I think the timing is right.
“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.
“That told me there was an issue there. I think also, even going back before that, 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 [contract].
“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 also confirmed he contacted Salah directly in the aftermath of the interview, encouraging him to manage his exit carefully.
“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 directly.
“He texts me now and again, or I text him, more to do if I’m going somewhere with [Gerrard’s son] 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.’
“He is still a little emotional from the incident. He was a substitute, 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.
“I understand both sides of it now that I’ve done a bit of managing myself.”
Salah has featured regularly across the Premier League campaign, making over 30 appearances in all competitions.
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