Steven Gerrard says he understood Mohamed Salah's decision to leave Liverpool at the end of last season
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool appears emotional as he applauds the fans following his final appearance for the club during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brentford at Anfield on May 24, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah waved goodbye to Liverpool at the end of last season (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard says he holds no grudges over Mohamed Salah's decision to cut short his Anfield contract. Salah signed a two-year extension in April 2025 but after a falling out with former boss Arne Slot just a few months later, the Egyptian asked the club to be allowed out of his terms a year early and departed as a free agent at the end of last season.
Salah is regarded as one of the greatest players of the modern era at Liverpool but clashed with Slot in the difficult 2025-26 campaign when he was left on the bench for three successive Premier League games as the head coach attempted to arrest a slump that had seen the team lose nine in 12 between September and November.
A truce was eventually found between player and boss as Salah returned to the fold in mid-December. But the forward then publicly signalled his intent to leave at the end of last season during the March international break.
READ MORE: Giovanni Leoni explains Liverpool decision after devastating injury as return nears
Salah, who left as the third highest goalscorer in club history with 257 goals, joined Turkish side Trabzonspor in August, which came as a surprise move to many at the time.
And former captain Gerrard, who himself departed Anfield at the end of the 2014-15 campaign to join LA Galaxy in the United States, admits his own situation 11 years ago was similar to Salah's last term.
Asked if he felt it was a shame Salah didn't see out his contract at Liverpool, Gerrard told Sport Bible: “I don’t think that every footballer necessarily has to finish their career at a club where they’ve shone for so long.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Former Liverpool player, Steven Gerrard shakes hands with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the Premier League match between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Anfield on November 01, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Steven Gerrard greets his fellow Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah after the win over Aston Villa last season(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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“I think what’s important when you get to the latter stages your career is that you continue to enjoy it; that a manager appreciates you; that you’re still starting football matches.
“I was in a similar situation myself with Brendan Rodgers and no hard feelings and all due respect, I think it’s important that you see your career out where you’re enjoying it, you’re still playing and you’re still contributing and you feel important.”
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