Mohamed Salah guarded his words with the same care he has shown across a high-profile Liverpool career, but his interview with Steven Gerrard for TNT Sports delivered several clear signals about his future.

Salah revealed a private January meeting with Gerrard that shaped his thinking at a turbulent point. “People didn’t know you came to my house, we had a good conversation,” Salah revealed, inspiring a bashful smirk from Gerrard. “You said your opinion and I really appreciate it. I am glad I am leaving now through the big door.

“That is something you mentioned to me, just leave on your terms, I still remember those words. I am happy about it. Everything that is going on this season makes me think, ‘No it’s time to go.’”

On what comes next away from Liverpool, the 33-year-old remained undecided but emphatic about his condition. “Honestly physically I feel I have a lot to give,” he said, then added: “I played many games this season. I haven’t decided what I am going to do yet, I have a lot of good options. Physically I feel fine, I feel what I did over the years paid off, I feel good.”

He was equally forthright about fitness. “I feel good, body wise I feel all right,” Salah insisted. “Last season I had this incredible season, I think I have a lot to give and I will see what is the best for me.”

Salah acknowledged interest from a range of suitors, from Saudi Arabia to MLS, while leaving open whether a European elite side will match his view of his own fitness.

Injury and availability were discussed. The forward damaged his hamstring at the end of April, ruling him out of the trip to Man Utd and possibly the Chelsea game, but he left room for a return later in the month. When Gerrard suggested he might miss the final weekend, Salah replied: “Yeah, yeah, for sure.” He added: “The injury is fine,” he explained. “Probably it will be before that.”

Salah also responded to a message from Jürgen Klopp with a light jab. “I was so happy last year that I win the Premier League ,” the top-flight champion smiled, “then I can tell him that, ‘I have two Premier Leagues and you have one.’”

Remaining fixtures cited in the interview were: Sunday, May 3 v Man Utd (Old Trafford); Saturday, May 9 v Chelsea (Anfield); Sunday, May 17 v Aston Villa (Villa Park); Sunday, May 24 v Brentford (Anfield).

Mohamed Salah has confirmed that matters away from the pitch played a decisive role in his decision to leave Liverpool this summer. He said that while last season — in which he “break the records” and helped the club win the Premier League — was not the right moment to go, the dynamics this campaign changed his mind.

“I think personally—I’m not going into details, I’m not trying to play around—but last season I wasn’t ready to go because you break the records, you win the Premier League, it’s not right,” he explained.

“But now with everything going on in the season—I won’t go into details—it’s like, ‘You know what, it’s time. I want to go.’

“And of course there is a lot of things behind the scenes people don’t know about it, but yeah, I think now is the time. I have peace with it.’”

He expanded on that feeling in a separate interview. Salah told TNT Sports : “To go through the year, the season, where I feel like, ‘O.K., this is the right thing to do now and I have peace with it.’

“This season was tough for all of us and I don’t want to say much more on that.”

The season’s difficulties began in July 2025 with the death of winger Diogo Jota. After the opening day win over Bournemouth Salah showed his emotion, applauding a rendition of Jota’s chant and shedding tears.

Five months later Salah made headlines with a public confrontation involving manager Arne Slot, saying he had “no relationship” with the boss after being benched for three games in a row. Slot has denied responsibility for Salah’s departure but said he had no issues if fans wanted to view him as the “bad guy” of the situation.

On the field Liverpool slipped out of the title race before the midway point of the season, with Salah’s output dropping after what the draft describes as arguably the best season of his career the year before. Slot accepted this campaign became a transitional one as the club brought in new players to replace the departing Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez, among others.

Salah’s statement underlined that his choice was influenced by off-field issues and that he now feels settled about moving on.

Old Trafford hosts a tightly poised Premier League meeting this Sunday as Manchester United and Liverpool prepare for their 246th fixture. The sides arrive separated by three points. United beat Liverpool 2–1 at Anfield in October, while Arne Slot’s debut at Old Trafford produced a 3–0 win for Liverpool last term.

The contest may come down to individual battles. First is the duel around Bruno Fernandes. Ryan Gravenberch was the recipient of last season’s Premier League Young Player of the Season award, but it is Bruno Fernandes who now appears set to define this campaign. After his 19th assist of the term in Monday’s win over Brentford, one off matching the all-time division record for a single campaign, United’s skipper is the front-runner to win the league’s Player of the Season for 2025/26. He has eight Premier League goals and a league-high 114 chances created. Stopping Fernandes would tilt the game firmly in Liverpool’s favour. That is the task for Gravenberch, supported by Alexis Mac Allister in Liverpool’s double pivot. Gravenberch struggled to contain Fernandes in the reverse fixture at Anfield, where he was hooked after an hour; Fernandes created three chances, grabbing an assist and managing 12 passes into the final third.

The second key matchup is Dominik Szoboszlai against Casemiro. Szoboszlai has been Liverpool’s standout performer, winning five of the club’s eight Player of the Month awards and contributing 12 goals and nine assists in all competitions. With Hugo Ekitiké missing through injury and Mohamed Salah also out, more creative responsibility will fall to Szoboszlai. Casemiro will be charged with shackling Liverpool’s No. 8. While noted for timely attacking contributions this season, Casemiro’s return to his defensive best and Kobbie Mainoo’s reintegration have enabled him to concentrate on stopping opponents.

Finally, Alexander Isak seeks late redemption in a difficult debut season. A mixture of expectation and injury has limited him, but after his fourth Liverpool goal in last weekend’s victory over Crystal Palace, he has a few more chances to contribute. A strong performance at Old Trafford would offer a welcome confidence boost.