An emotional Mohamed Salah said “we put the club back where it belongs” after playing his final game for Liverpool on Sunday.
A 1-1 draw at home to Brentford on the last day of the Premier League season marked the end of the Egyptian forward’s nine-year spell at Anfield.
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Salah, 33, bid farewell alongside Scotland defender Andy Robertson, who also joined in 2017.
Salah scored 257 goals for Liverpool, behind only Ian Rush (346) and Roger Hunt (285) in the club’s list of leading goalscorers.
He has also won multiple trophies at the club including the Champions League and two Premier League titles.
“I think I cried more than in my whole life,” Salah told Sky Sports after the Brentford match. “I’m not really an emotional guy.
“We lived our youth here, sharing everything from the beginning to the end,” said Salah of the time he shared with Robertson at Anfield. “We put this club back where it belongs.”
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Salah’s departure was announced in March after he told reporters in December his relationship with Liverpool manager Arne Slot had broken down.
And in a social media post following last week’s defeat at Aston Villa, Salah said he wanted to see a return to “heavy metal football”, referring to the approach under former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
But he still started the match against Brentford, with the names of both Salah and Robertson met with a deafening roar when introduced by the stadium announcer.
Banners in the crowd celebrated both players, one saying “Thank you legends”. Another said: “We Have Gone From Great To Glory. Salah Is Our King”.
Salah was the Premier League’s top-scorer last season, with 29 goals, as Liverpool won the title, but his form dipped dramatically this term and he managed just seven goals in the league.
The draw with Brentford, allied to Bournemouth’s defeat by Manchester United, ensured Liverpool secured fifth position in the Premier League, guaranteeing the six-time European champions a place in next season’s Champions League.
“It’s tricky to leave Liverpool,” said Salah, adding: “It’s life. I look back and wonder if I would have wanted more than I achieved. Not really.
“We won it all. We see the love from the fans and this is the most important thing for me.
“I will be far away from here. I will be emotional every time. I hope the team stays in the position, fighting for everything.”
PEP SAYS GOODBYE
Pep Guardiola bid an emotional farewell to Manchester City as a 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa on Sunday brought down the curtain on a glittering decade under the Catalan.
The 55-year-old announced Friday that he is set to depart after winning 20 trophies in 10 seasons that made City the dominant force of English football.
Guardiola made his entrance to a rousing reception alongside a giant banner bearing his face and the message “Game changer. History maker. City forever.” Catalan flags were unfurled behind one goal, while at the other end the newly named and expanded Pep Guardiola Stand was in operation for the first time.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss won six Premier League titles and City’s only Champions League among his haul of 17 major pieces of silverware.
“In the next years, if you see me in the streets in the (United) States or Europe or somewhere and you are a Man City fan, come to me and hug me. I will need it!” Guardiola said in a post-match address to the crowd.
Bernardo Silva and John Stones were part of the squads that won all of those trophies and also received a fitting send-off in their final game for the club after a combined 19 seasons of service.
Silva was in tears even before kick-off as he led City out as captain for the day.
But there was little on the line for both sides on the field. City fell short in their quest to chase down Arsenal at the top of the table as a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday saw the Gunners crowned champions.
Villa were still in celebratory mood after winning their first trophy for 30 years on Wednesday by claiming the Europa League.
But victory for Unai Emery’s men did ensure they finished in fourth ahead of Liverpool.
– Haaland left out –
Guardiola made nine changes from the side that started at Bournemouth with Erling Haaland among those to not even make the bench.
Antoine Semenyo was one of the few City regulars to start and he put the home side in front with a clever finish from a corner.
Decked in a resplendent white t-shirt and khaki trousers for the uncharacteristically searing temperates in England’s north-west, Guardiola remained an animated figure on the touchline despite the dead rubber nature of the contest.
However, he suffered a rare home defeat after Ollie Watkins struck twice in the second half to further justify his inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup.
Watkins pounced on a poor header by England team-mate Stones to prod home from a corner.
Both sides then stopped to make a guard of honour for Silva as he was substituted, prompting more tears from the Portugal international and Guardiola.
“The love I got from this club, from you guys, I doubt I will get it again,” said Siva. “All the memories we have together, with my brothers, with you, the staff, this is a family. It will forever be my family and I am really grateful.” Villa took advantage as City struggled to compose themselves moments later, Watkins surging clear and producing a classy finish for his 21st goal of the season.
The testimonial nature of the afternoon continued as play was stopped once more for Stones to this time receive a guard of honour and appreciation from the City support.
City thought they had salvaged at least a point when Phil Foden crashed in off the underside of the crossbar.
But a controversial VAR review deemed Foden was offside despite inconclusive evidence.