Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, manager Steve McManaman say the feud cannot continue until AFCON, Mohamed Salah says: ‘I need to apologize’

‘Emotional’ Salah will regret comments but Liverpool ‘need’ his return – Gerrard

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Gerrard told TNT Sports: “As someone who’s been around the club and has a lot of respect for the club and the players and the hierarchy at the club, what I tried to do on the show was to have a little bit of common sense and put a little bit of a damper on the situation. We all know he gave this bombshell interview.”

“He made some incorrect statements in the interview and I think he needs to apologize for that and I hope that Virgil van Dijk, as a captain and as a leader, can help put it together.”

“I’ve been in that situation myself. The reality is, as a Liverpool fan right now, Mohamed Salah is a world-class footballer and Liverpool’s top scorer.

“We can’t all have short memories because he helped us win the league last year. He’s really important to the football club unless things are a lot worse than what we’re looking at.”

Fans singing my name ‘mean a lot’ – Slots

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“But from a fan’s perspective and a former player’s perspective, I wanted to bring some common sense into it. He’s a world-class football player.

“We need him and from Liverpool’s point of view no one needs this to continue, so I hope that the situation can be resolved in the coming hours and days.”

“Last night’s result helped. They were excellent. It was a first-team performance. It will be another relief if this situation is resolved by the weekend and he is in the squad for the game against Brighton.”

“But the game plan and tactics of the players and Arne Slott last night were great. This was the best Liverpool performance we’ve seen in a while.”

“So, hopefully we can start talking about the team’s results and performance.”

Slott answers Salah’s question after Inter win: ‘We should talk about the players we have here’

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In his post-match interview at San Siro, Slott was asked if he was responsible for making the first move by offering Salah peace talks.

However, given the timing of this month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Salah could leave to join his home country from early next week and be out until mid-January.

Gerrard has called for an end to the high-profile fracture dispute, but stopped short of placing all the blame on captain Virgil van Dijk in a settlement.

Salah is ‘a very smart guy’, interview was not ‘naive’ – McCoist

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“I can’t say it’s on Virgil,” Gerrard added. “But as captain and leader, Virgil will want us to be completely focused on the team and our performance against Brighton.

“I think Mr Mo, his agent and the club need to come together. Whoever instigated it will probably be on Mr Mo’s side more than anyone else and let’s hope that happens in the next few days.”

Gerrard: Let’s all grow up and move on.

Gerrard almost swapped Liverpool’s red for Chelsea’s blue in the summer of 2005, when he surprised supporters by submitting a transfer request just six weeks after winning the Champions League with Istanbul.

‘It should be behind closed doors’ – Experts discuss Salah’s future after the riots

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Reflecting on his experience as a Liverpool player, Gerrard said: “Each situation is different, of course.

“There was also a falling out with Brendan[Rodgers]and Luis Suarez at the time. I felt that one of my duties as captain was to be a mediator and make sure that that didn’t happen.”

“Suarez was training with the Under-23s. We had a big game coming up. Our Liverpool team was much weaker.

“With Luis Suárez missing, I felt it was my responsibility to try to help both sides of the situation, for the benefit of the team and the fans.

‘Keep it in the dressing room’ Hargreaves and Hoddle on Salah situation

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“So I hope Andy Robinson and Virgil van Dijk go to Mauritius. Look, Mo, you’re saying some things here that are a little out of order, a little bit wrong.

“Let’s get back to soccer together. We need you. Let’s all grow up and move on.”

McManaman: On Salah starting negotiations

TNT Sports expert Steve McManaman believes the Salah scandal needs to end as soon as possible for the team’s benefit.

Asked whether captain Van Dijk should encourage talks with Salah, McManaman said: “No, I don’t think it’s about Virgil. I wouldn’t say it’s about Virgil.”

Salah: ‘I don’t mean to disrespect anyone’ with explosive comments – Alisson

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“But as captain and leader, I’m sure Virgil wants his full focus to be on the team and on the performance for the game against Brighton. I think Mr Mo, his agent and the club need to come together. Whoever is instigating it will probably be on Mr Mo’s side more than anyone else.”

“Let’s hope it happens in the next few days. I think it could happen with any player. He’s had a relationship with Virgil for the last eight years and with Andy Robertson for the last eight years.”

“Everyone gets along in that dressing room. If it were him, I might have to say, ‘Come on, sort it out.’ If I had known him that long, I would have said something to him and said, ‘This is not good for the team. It’s not good for you. It’s not good for the team going forward.'” This has to be nipped in the bud before he goes to AFCON.

Slott has ‘no clue’ if Salah played his last game for Liverpool

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“We can’t have six weeks of everyone thinking about rumors and innuendo. Will he be back in January? We need to nip it in the bud now before he leaves because if it continues for the next six weeks it won’t be of any use to anyone.”

“He leaves for AFCON on Monday and we have a game against Brighton at the weekend. Hopefully we can sort something out between now and Saturday.”