Mohamed Salah said a tearful goodbye to Liverpool this afternoon, after being praised by The Kop for the last time.
Salah admitted that he had achieved everything he wanted during his Liverpool career. He started the 1-1 draw against Brentford – despite his forceful statements about Arne Slot’s tactics last weekend – and played for 74 minutes before coming off for a heroic reception.
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Nine minutes later, he was followed by Andy Robertson, who also played his last game for the club. Both returned to the pitch at the final whistle, and Salah shed tears as Liverpool fans chanted his name.
“I cried more than in my entire life”
Standing next to Robertson, he told Sky Sports:
“I think I cried more than in my entire life. I’m not really an emotional guy. We lived our youth here and shared everything from beginning to end. We put this club back where it belongs. He (Andy Robertson) is loved because he gives everything he has on the pitch. The supporters love him for it.
“It’s hard to leave Liverpool. He is very important for the team and for the period we had. I’m really honored to have shared the locker room with him. He was there for the team. I’m very lucky to have been able to share a wardrobe with him.
“That’s life. I look back and wonder if I wish I had achieved more. I don’t really. We won everything. We see the love from the fans, and that’s the most important thing for me.
“I’m going to be far away from here. I’m going to get emotional every time. I hope the team stays where it belongs and fights for everything.
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Robertson: “Guardiola pushed us to new limits”
An exhausted Robertson added:
“I’m completely out of emotion. It’s been a busy week trying to keep my emotions in check and say goodbye to those you have to say goodbye to.
“Pep Guardiola pushed us to new limits. We should have won more Premier League titles if it wasn’t for that man.
“In the years to come, we know that we are both welcome back to this football club. This is a big chapter in our book, but it’s not the end. First and foremost, we have to relax and focus on the World Cup. I know this is our family, and we will be welcomed back.
Slot: “Our fans are brilliant”
It has been a mostly disappointing season for Liverpool, which started with the tragic death of Diogo Jota in a car accident in Spain.
When asked what he thought about the reception of Salah and Robertson, Slot replied:
“Brilliant, as expected. Our fans always find a way to do something special in beautiful and special moments. There was also a lot of singing for Diogo Jota today.
“We deserved a place in the Champions League”
Liverpool finished fifth, but still secured a place in the Champions League.
Slot added:
“We had chances to score more than one goal. We almost lost in the end, but ended up with a draw.
“There are several habits I would like to get rid of. It’s not nice to concede goals at any time. Too many times this season, when we’ve been the best team, people haven’t noticed because we haven’t created enough chances.
“Many times this season we have been counter-attacked and conceded goals. We deserved to qualify for the Champions League. We have been in the top five for much of the season.
