Forward Mohamed Salah must “reverse away” from his accusation that he has been “thrown under the bus” by Liverpool, says former captain Steven Gerrard.
Salah said after Saturday’s Premier League draw at Leeds that he has been blamed for Liverpool’s poor form and that his relationship with manager Arne Slot had broken down.
The Egypt forward was left out of the squad that travelled to Inter Milan for Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League win, although Slot has said Salah could return to the side.
Former England midfielder Gerrard, who left Liverpool in 2015, said Salah was a “bit emotional and a bit hasty”.
“He’s obviously really upset he’s not playing, which I respect,” he told TNT Sport.
“A couple of lines about throwing people under the bus – wrong. [He] needs to reverse a little bit away from that, he needs to deal with that with the manager.”
Gerrard added: “We’ve all had head loss as players. We’ve all done emotional things.
“I know in time when this all calms, Mo will go, ‘I shouldn’t have said that. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. I was a bit emotional. I was a bit hasty.'”
Gerrard compared the situation to former Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez and manager Brendan Rodgers, who fell out in 2013 when the forward tried to force a move away from Anfield.
Suarez was made to train alone but returned to the squad and stayed for one more season.
“I’ve seen this and I’ve lived it with Suarez when he fell out with Brendan face to face. I’ve been there and done it myself,” Gerrard said.
There have been reports that Salah, who signed a new contract in April, could leave in January, amid interest from Saudi Arabian clubs.
He has played a key role in Liverpool’s two Premier League titles and one Champions League triumph since joining from Roma in 2017.
But he has scored only four goals in 13 Premier League games this season, with the defending champions 10th in the table.
“At the end of the day Liverpool Football Club need Mo Salah back playing well, back scoring goals, because he is the best player, the best scorer, and he will help them get out of this.”
