Steven Gerrard revealed that he had a text conversation with Mohamed Salah shortly after the Liverpool forward criticised Arne Slot. The Egyptian recently confirmed he has chosen to depart Anfield at the end of the season. Throughout nine years on the red side of Merseyside, Salah established himself as one of the greatest players in the club’s extensive history.

However, just before he departed for the Africa Cup of Nations, he publicly condemned Slot for leaving him on the bench after Liverpool drew 3-3 with Leeds at Elland Road. Salah was then left out for Liverpool’s Champions League away win over Inter Milan, but was reintroduced into the team after he returned from AFCON.

Reflecting on Salah’s dispute with Slot, Gerrard disclosed he had a candid exchange with Salah over the phone.

Speaking on The Overlap, Gerrard said: “I spoke to him around that interview at the time. I said ‘Don’t do what you’ve done and go under a cloud’ – yeah I spoke to him direct.

“He texts me every now and again or I text him now and again, more if I am going somewhere with Leo (Gerrard’s son) just so Leo can see him.

“But it gave me the opportunity to say to him, ‘You’ve been here for eight or nine years. You’ve been a king here, you’ve got this legacy. Go on your terms, the right way.'”

When asked how Salah responded to Gerrard’s words, the former England captain said: “He was still a little emotional at the time from the incidents. He was a sub, he was in and out of the team at the time, he was upset. I thought it would have been a shame if he left in January and he just left.”

Elaborating further on the fallout between Slot and Salah, Gerrard added: “I understand both sides of it now I have been a manager myself, I understand both sides. I had a similar thing with Brendan (Rodgers).

“But when I look back at it now and I am out of the game and on the other side of it and less emotional, you understand it from where Brendan is. I maybe wasn’t the same player at 34. There’s no rule where you have to play every minute because you’re the captain, but at the time it’s not easy.

“When you’re in the squad and you’re about to play United and you look at the squad and you think ‘I am as good if not better than those players.’ It’s difficult in the player’s situation.”

Salah will depart Liverpool at the end of the season despite having one year remaining on his contract. Nevertheless, the club have allowed him to leave Anfield without a transfer fee, effectively making him a free agent.