Mohamed Salah says that Liverpool fans had been wrong with Boo Trent Alexander-Arnold and insists that the right back deserves “the best farewell” for everything he has done for his childhood club.
Alexander-Arnold was hue by Liverpool fans in Anfield during the 2-2 draw last Sunday against Arsenal after the confirmation that he leaves to join Real Madrid during a free transfer this summer.
Salah has been saddened by the reception of his teammate against Arsenal and includes Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave the club having been in Liverpool since the age of six.
“I think fans were hard with him,” said Salah Sky Sports’ Gary Neville in an exclusive interview before the Liverpool meeting with Brighton Monday evening football.
“I think he didn’t deserve him at the time, he deserved fans to treat him in the best possible way because he gave everything to the fans.”
The 26 -year -old made 353 senior appearances to Liverpool in all competitions, scoring 23 goals and who has won two Premier League titles and a Champions League.
When he was asked if the hoots saddened him, Salah said: “Absolutely. I was surprised because it is not how we act as Liverpool fans.
“We should not act in this way with anyone who always appreciates people, who came here for six months.
“Imagine someone who has given you everything for 20 years. It shouldn’t be like that. I hope it will change the next match, against Brighton or in the last game of the season because he deserves goodbye.”
Salah, who signed a new contract in Liverpool with Virgil Van Dijk in April, also expressed his sadness at the start of Alexander-Arnold, but insisted that he had the right to seek a new challenge after so many years of service in Liverpool.
“I told him yesterday don’t give me visual contact in your farewells,” added Salah.
“I really love her. I think he deserves the best goodbye leaving the club. He did a lot for the city and did a lot for the club and he is probably one of the best players in the history of the club. He gave everything.
“I think he needed a new challenge. He spoke to me. It is his decision with certainty. He is 25, 26 years old and has won everything two or three times. What would have done more?
“He just needs to go, change and challenge himself. People don’t know much, but he spent 20 years in the club.
“It is so difficult to mentally so that someone is 20 years in a club. Yes, I like the place, but I go to the same place every day for 20 years, mentally, you could be depressed.
“I really wish him the best. I will always be in contact with him.
“It’s his decision. I have not tried to convince him to stay because I know it’s 20 years in a club is not easy. It’s so difficult.
“People think it is easy to make a decision and stay. This is not the case.
“I always want him in my team. Someone like him, you want it in your team. But I also understand, being in the same place for 20 years is not easy.”
Salah: Honest conversations with the slot machine have inspired my season
Salah contributed to 46 goals in the Premier League in an astonishing individual season for the champions and said that the influence of Arne Slot was the key.
“I felt that he was quite hard,” said Salah about his first impression of the Liverpool boss who arrived to replace Jurgen Klopp last summer.
“If he wants something, he continues to ask you right away. It was quite delicate at first, but after that, you get used to him and how he talks to you and what he wants and things get easier.”
Salah says that Slot has shown its importance for the team during a heating of the dull pre-season.
“He showed me a few videos of me in the warm-up,” he said.
“The players were in national teams and I was not, I came early with the young players, I started the pre-season earlier and I was heating.
“I was quite slow, I didn’t do much. Then he showed me:” Look at the second (player) after he comes well, look at the third. “Then you see the whole line walking like me and he said” it’s your influence on the team “.
“We had some honest conversations between us. He was very honest, showed me a few clips and said to me:” With this MO, we can win everything. With this MO, we cannot win a lot. I want to get the most out of it, I want it to be available all season and your best year to come with me. “
“I said,” Ok. Tell me what you want from me and I will do it because I am very professional “.
“He did not challenge me, he was very respectful and I told him that he was a very respectful person. He treated me different. He showed me what he wanted from me. (Slot said :)” If you want to add something, change something to open with me “and it was great.
“I was just feeling, the new manager coming, you give space and appreciation, let me talk to him all the time (from) what I want to improve, what I want the team to do for me, what I want to do for the team … I think that’s what I needed.
“He showed me:” You are different, you are a superstar here “- I probably felt that it was what I needed at the time.”
Sky Sports to show 215 live games next season
Since next season, the coverage of the Premier League in Sky Sports will have 128 games at least 215 live games exclusively.
And 80% of all the Premier League television matches next season are on Sky Sports.