Mohamed Salah is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season
Liverpool players past and present have paid tribute to Mohamed Salah after he confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season.
Salah, 33, announced in a statement on Tuesday evening that he has reached an agreement with the Reds to cancel his contract and depart on a free transfer this summer.
The Egypt international signed for Liverpool from Roma in 2017 and has since enjoyed a successful nine-year period on Merseyside, scoring 255 goals in 435 appearances, winning seven major trophies.
He said in a social media video: "Hello everyone, unfortunately the day has come. This is the first part of my farewell. I will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. I wanted to start by saying that I never imagined how deeply this club, this city, this people would become part of my life.
"Liverpool is not just a football club, it's a passion it's a history. It's a spirit. I can't explain the words to anyone not part of this club. We celebrated victory, we won the most important trophies and we fought together through the hardest time in our life. I want to thank everyone who was part of this club throughout my time here, especially the team-mates past and present.
"And to the fans: I don't have enough words, the support you showed me through the best time of my career and you stood by me in the toughest times. It is something I will never forget and something I will take with me always.
"Leaving is never easy. You gave me the best time of my life. I will always be one of you. This club will always be my home to me and to my family. Thank you for everything, because of all of you I will never walk alone."
In response to Salah's announcement, a number of Liverpool players - both past and present - reacted and paid tribute to the departing Reds legend.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, who left Liverpool last summer to join Real Madrid, enjoyed a number of memorable moments playing alongside Salah, and dropped a red love heart emoji in the comments.
Alexis Mac Allister put a clapping emoji, Harvey Elliott wrote "legend" accompanied by a crying and a red love heart emoji, while Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk commented a red love heart and clapping emoji.
Jordan Henderson, now at Brentford, commented with a king and red love heart emoji, Florian Wirtz put a folded hands and red love heart emoji, and Ryan Gravenberch commented "legend" with red love heart emoji.
Darwin Nunez put a red love heart and king emoji, Ibrahima Konate said, "The King", while Joe Gomez wrote two red love heart emojis and Steven Gerrard added a red love heart emoji of his own.
The most emotional message, meanwhile, came from long-serving left-back Andy Robertson, who joined Liverpool in the same summer as Salah, and commented "the greatest" before adding his own separate Instagram post.
Alongside an image of him and Salah, Robertson said: "Mohammed, Thank you. 9 of the best years of our lives with amazing memories on and off the pitch. Watching you become the best at what you do and become one of the best to ever have worn the Liverpool shirt has been a joy to watch and be part of.
"Your mentality is second to none and a lot of people could take note. You have pushed yourself every single day and always demanded more from yourself and others. A pleasure sharing the pitch with you for so long but even more so being able to call you a friend.
"You deserve a send off that reflects your status at LFC- the greatest. Second to none [Egypt flag and king emoji]."
Salah has a maximum of 15 matches left in a Liverpool shirt. Seven of them come in the Premier League, while he could have three more in the FA Cup and a further five in the Champions League depending on the club's progress in both of those competitions.
10 games, however, are guaranteed, with Salah and Liverpool next in action when they travel to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday, April 4.
