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Steven Gerrard disagrees with Gary Neville over ‘shock’ Chelsea and Arsenal claim | Football
Steven Gerrard shut down Gary Neville’s suggestion that Mohamed Salah could ‘rock up’ at Chelsea or Arsenal after leaving Liverpool.
Salah, one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players, announced last month that he would be leaving Anfield at the end of the season.
Since joining Liverpool in 2017, Salah has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances, putting his third in the club’s list of all-time record goalscorers.
The Egyptian superstar, 33, has helped Liverpool win two Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and three domestic cups.
Salah signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool last summer but will leave on a free transfer at the end of the season after ‘reaching an agreement’ with the club.
The Anfield legend has been heavily linked with moves to Saudi Arabia and the MLS since announcing his imminent departure.
But Neville has questioned if Salah will try to keep playing at the top level for another season or two before perhaps moving to Saudi or America at a future date.
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If that proves to be the case, landing spots for Salah are not entirely clear, with Neville dismissing moves to the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and PSG as unrealistic.
The former Manchester United and England defender raised a ‘ridiculous’ suggestion after questioning whether Salah could ‘rock up’ at one of Liverpool’s Premier League rivals, Chelsea or Arsenal.
But Liverpool hero Gerrard was quick to dismiss that theory and tipped Salah to move to the Saudi Pro League, where he himself managed between 2023 and 2025.
Speaking to Gerrard, fellow ex-Liverpool star Jamie Carragher said on The Overlap: ‘You went to LA Galaxy and with Mo Salah now, do you think he will do a MLS or a Saudi move or do you think he will still think he can play at the top level and move to another big club?’
Gerrard responded: ‘Knowing him, he’ll still have himself down as one of the best players in the world.
‘That’s why the fallout [at Liverpool] came apart, he was probably struggling with the transition of not starting every game. But I think that’s his mentality.’
Mohamed Salah announces Liverpool exit
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 never imagined how deeply this club, this city, these 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 it in 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.
Neville then said: ‘You’ve both said the same thing now about Salah, that he will still think he’s the best player in the world and you don’t think it’s right for him to go to the US or Saudi.
‘Has he got a shock in him though? I’m going to put something ridiculous out there… could he rock up at Chelsea or Arsenal?
‘He’s been to Italy before and he’s not going to Barcelona or Real Madrid. In a different time I could have seen him at PSG but that’s not going to happen now.
‘These players have egos that means they have to play at clubs that suit their brand and way of thinking.’
Responding to Neville’s theory, Gerrard said: ‘I’m not saying it’s not right for him to go to Saudi or MLS. I’m talking about what he might be thinking in his head and where does he see himself…
‘I don’t think he will do that [join a Premier League rival]. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s another big club somewhere else, but I don’t think he would move to a rival.
‘I think it will be Saudi. I’ve lived over there and knowing how he’s thought of over there, I think it will be Saudi.
‘It wouldn’t shock me if he moved to Italy but if I had to put money on it I would go with Saudi.
‘There’s some good players in the top-end out there and he would be playing with some good players, some very good players.’
Carragher, meanwhile, tipped Salah for a move back to Serie A and suggested he would regret joining a Saudi Pro League side this summer.
‘I could see Italy, I could see Milan or Inter,’ Carragher added. ‘I think he thinks he’s still one of the best players in the world.
‘And that’s almost retiring going over there in my eyes. I think he could do another two or three years somewhere and then go there.’
While Liverpool failed to retain their Premier League trophy this season, Salah will hope to help the Reds salvage a poor campaign by qualifying for the Champions League.
Arne Slot’s side also have aspirations of winning the Champions League and FA Cup ahead of quarter-final ties against PSG and Manchester City.
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