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Salah tells Gerrard: “It’s time to go” as Liverpool legend confirms emotional exit

ShotShot2 May 2026, 09:02
Salah tells Gerrard: “It’s time to go” as Liverpool legend confirms emotional exit

Mohamed Salah has reflected on his decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the season in a candid interview with Steven Gerrard on The Breakdown, revealing how a private dinner conversation helped shape his choice and admitting he now feels “peace” with stepping away after nine iconic years at Anfield.

The Egypt international announced in March that he would leave Liverpool at the end of the season, bringing down the curtain on an iconic nine-year stay at the club which brought two Premier League titles and an historic UEFA Champions League triumph.

With 257 goals and 122 assists in 440 appearances for Liverpool, Salah leaves as not only one of the greatest players in the club's history, but also in the Premier League as a whole.

The record three-time PFA Player of the Year winner spoke to Gerrard on TNT Sports' The Breakdown, and revealed how the former England midfielder shared words of wisdom over a dinner to help him find the right way to call an end to his Liverpool career.

"Yeah, I'm happy now," Salah said of leaving Liverpool. "I remember we had that conversation, I appreciated that. I think people didn't know that you came to my house. I hope it was a good dinner!

"We had a good conversation, and you said your opinion, and I think I really, really appreciate it.

"Yeah, I'm glad that I'm leaving now from a big door, and I think this is also something you mentioned to me, just leaving on your terms, and I still remember those words, so, yeah, I'm happy about it... it's time to go."

Salah added: "I didn't become old overnight, so last season I had this incredible season. I think I have a lot to give still, and I will see what's best for me.

"But also, to go through the season, I feel like, 'OK, you know what? This is the right thing to do now, and I have peace with it'. The season was tough for all of us, and, yeah, I don't want to say much."

Speculation had surrounded Salah's future for much of 2024/25 - a record-breaking campaign for the forward, whose 29 goals and 18 assists tied the record for most goal involvements by a player in a single Premier League season, as he helped his side win the title.

He quashed the uncertainty over his future by signing a two-year contract in April 2025, but will leave Anfield a year before his terms expire, and says he has "a lot of options, which are good options" to continue his career elsewhere.

Salah's output in the 2025/26 season - 12 goals and nine assists in all competitions - is his lowest in any season since joining the club, speaking to his consistency across his nine years at the club.

And he said establishing a reputation as a Liverpool legend, to the levels of Gerrard and Kenny Dalglish, motivated him in maintaining such levels of performance.

"I would say the desire, I really want to succeed," Salah said. "I really want to be remembered in this club.

"I think, after the first year, I would say 'I want people to remember me as one of the best'. And somehow it gets into my head.

"I want people to remember me more than you [Gerrard], more than Kenny. I'm not trying to be rude.

"For me, something drives me crazy, and drives me to work hard, to be the first one in, to go to the gym, to do everything right, because I want people always to praise me up there for my work ethic. So it's just a desire, I would say."

There had been fears Salah may not play for Liverpool again after he suffered a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

But Salah told Gerrard he will return before the season is out, meaning he is likely to get a deserved send-off - which would also coincide with the return of former captain Jordan Henderson to Anfield, against Brentford on the last day of the season.

Salah reveals Gerrard and Mourinho texts

Before his initial introduction to the Premier League with Chelsea in the 2013/14 season, Salah plied his trade with Swiss side Basel.

He joined Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in January 2014, and went on to be a part of the side that won the title that year, beating Gerrard's Liverpool to the top-flight crown.

Salah revealed he had received a message from Gerrard at the time Mourinho was showing keen interest in signing him.

He said: "I remember when Liverpool were close to winning the Premier League in 2013, I think, or 2014. No, but you remember you sent me a message when I was in Basel?

"You sent me a message, you wanted to speak to me, and Mourinho was almost convincing me that I had to go there, and he texted me, and said, 'I want to speak to you', then I just switched off my phone and didn't answer back."

While Salah did wind up in Chelsea colours, his spell in west London was not a lengthy one. He left the club to join Fiorentina, and also spent time at Roma before making the move to Anfield in 2017.

'I will never, ever forget'

And throughout his time at various clubs across Europe, he said no experience came close to his second Premier League title with Liverpool - with their first coming in the COVID-19-affected 2019/20 campaign.

"Nothing like last season, winning the Premier League with the fans in the stadium, and have the record-breaking," he said.

"It's just like nothing, as a player, you want more than that. You want to be involved in that many goals and assists in a season in a club like Liverpool.

"I don't want to take credit from any other club, but winning the Premier League for this club is completely different than any other club.

"So imagine you in that. Premier League, with that impact, with that goal, with that assist, with that... Almost every individual trophy, it's just like something I will never, ever forget."