Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has revealed he had a frank phone call with winger Mohamed Salah at the time of the Egyptian's bombshell interview earlier this season.
After being left on the bench for the third game running the star forward accused the club of throwing him under the bus and claimed his relationship with head coach Arne Slot had broken down following the 3-3 draw at Leeds United in December.
The Reds have been nowhere near the level they were during Slot's first season in charge when Salah scored 29 goals and registered 18 assists as the club won it's 20th title.
The 33-year-old was rewarded for that fantastic form with a two-year contract extension but has since announced he'll depart the club this summer, midway through his deal.
And speaking on The Overlap, when asked if he was surprised by the Salah's decision to leave, Gerrard said: "No, not at all. I think it's in everyone's best interests. I think the timing is right in my opinion.
"Especially after the - he's obviously had a disagreement 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.
"But that told me there was an issue there. 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.
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"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.
"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.
"He texts me now and again, or I text him, more to do if I'm going somewhere with Leo. Just so Leo can see him. I'm not close to him, but it gave me the opportunity to say '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'."
When asked by Ian Wright how Salah responded to that conversation, Gerrard revealed: "Still a little emotional from the incident. He was sub and in and out of the team at the time. He was upset.
"But, I just thought it would have been a shame if he'd left in January and just left."
Gary Neville asked Gerrard if it was a consideration at the time and whether he could resonate with Salah, the former Reds midfielder said: "I'm not sure, I don't know [if Salah could have left in January].
"I understand both sides of it. Now that I've done a bit of managing myself, I understand both sides of it. I had a similar thing with Brendan [Rodgers] but when I look back at it now, I'm out of the game and less emotional, you understand it from where Brendan is.
"Maybe you're not the same player at 34 or 35. There's no real way you should play every minute of every game just because you're the captain, but at the time, it's not easy when you're in the team or squad and you're about to play Man United for example and you're sub.
"You look at the players who are playing and think you're just as good, if not better than those players. It's difficult in the player's situation. I had the situation at Rangers with Jermain Defoe, who was brilliant for me, top around the place.
"Best professional you'll work with, he wanted to play more and play every minute of every game because he was in the position I was in under Brendan. But as a manager, you have to do what's right and what's best for the team and if someone is out of form, or not playing, or can't do the job you're looking for, as a manager you have to make big decisions."
