Steven Gerrard Calls Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool Dressing Room Post ‘Damning’ Ahead of Arne Slot Era

Steven Gerrard has characterised a recent social media post by Mohamed Salah as “extremely interesting” and “quite damning,” warning that the Egyptian forward’s public comments could point to deeper internal problems at Liverpool as the club prepares for a new managerial chapter under Arne Slot.

The controversy stems from a message Salah posted on Saturday following Liverpool’s 4-2 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa. In the post, the winger called on his teammates to “recover their identity” and meet the standards expected of the club — unusually direct public language from a player not known for airing grievances on social media.

The defeat compounded Liverpool’s difficulties, leaving them unable to secure a Champions League place heading into the final matchday of the season. The outcome of that last fixture will determine whether the club qualifies for European football’s premier competition next term.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Gerrard — himself a former Liverpool captain and one of the club’s most celebrated figures — interpreted Salah’s post as a pointed message directed both internally and externally. “Wow. Listen, that is extremely interesting,” Gerrard said. “Mo Salah doesn’t really speak much, and he doesn’t tweet, and he certainly doesn’t tweet like that.”

Gerrard elaborated on what he believed the post signalled: “So I think that he’s sending a message to the outside that things in that Liverpool dressing room are not right: the identity’s gone, and it’s really hurting him to see it in front of his own eyes.”

The former midfielder also questioned the timing of Salah’s statement, with just one fixture remaining in Liverpool’s season. “I’m surprised by the timing… that is quite damning to the Liverpool manager and the staff in terms of where this team’s at,” Gerrard added. “It’s strange, it’s unusual. He’s going to be doing a load of media around his last game, I’m sure. I’m really looking forward to the coming days because that’s unusual for a Liverpool player, and it’s unusual for Mo Salah.”

Salah is set to depart Anfield at the end of the current campaign after a trophy-laden spell at the club. During his time at Liverpool, the Egyptian won multiple major honours, establishing himself as one of the most decorated and prolific players in the club’s modern history.

The timing of Salah’s comments adds a layer of complexity to a transitional period at the club. Arne Slot has been confirmed as the incoming head coach, taking over from the outgoing management structure. Gerrard’s reading of the situation suggests Salah’s post may place additional scrutiny on the environment Slot will inherit, regardless of whether Salah himself remains part of the squad.

Gerrard’s own connection to Salah adds an additional layer of significance to his commentary. Salah has previously spoken publicly about Gerrard’s role in persuading him to join Liverpool, making the former captain’s critique of the current situation at Anfield particularly noteworthy. How the club responds to the fallout from Salah’s post — and how it manages his farewell amid ongoing questions about squad identity — will likely be closely watched as the season concludes.