‘It's in everyone's best interests’ - Liverpool legend Gerrard reflects on Salah’s impending departure

The former captain also revealed he gave Salah "direct" advice following the winger's public dispute with manager Arne Slot.

Salah confirmed last week that he will leave the Premier League champions at the end of the season, concluding a decorated nine-year spell with the club. 

The announcement followed a period of tension, notably an incident four months earlier in which Salah accused the club of throwing him "under the bus" and admitted his relationship with Slot had broken down.

Speaking on The Overlap, Gerrard shared his thoughts on the situation, confirming he maintains contact with Salah via text messages.

"I think it's in everyone's best interests. I think the timing is right in my opinion," Gerrard said. "Especially after the—he's obviously disagreed 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."

Gerrard suggested that the public comments were a clear indicator of underlying problems. "That told me there was an issue there," he added. "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]."

He continued, "For me, 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."

The Liverpool legend disclosed that he reached out to Salah after the controversial interview. "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 direct," Gerrard explained. 

"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."

Salah will leave Liverpool as the club's third-highest goalscorer, with his next destination still unknown.