Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool farewell risks turning ‘nasty’ like it did with Trent Alexander-Arnold last season, according to Roy Keane.
Keane has criticised the timing of Salah’s exit announcement and thinks the fans could turn on him if the Egyptian and Liverpool finish the season poorly.
Salah revealed on Tuesday that he will leave the Reds on a free transfer at the end of the campaign – cutting his contract a season short – after nine golden years at Anfield.
And Keane told the Stick to Football podcast: ‘I’m not sure it’s ideal, the timing. I don’t know why he doesn’t wait until the end of the season.’
‘Last year, there was a kind of noise coming out, “This could be my last game at Old Trafford.” He played all those games last year before he signed his new deal.
‘If Liverpool finish the season really badly, and they’ve not been great, and he’s in games – we saw with Trent [Alexander-Arnold] a little bit last year, different circumstances, Trent, is he leaving, then he has a bad game against United.
Mohamed Salah has won it all at Liverpool – but Roy Keane thinks his send-off could get ‘nasty’
Keane has warned that Salah must finish strongly to avoid fans thinking his heart isn’t in it
‘Say they come off in the last month or two and they don’t do anything in the cup matches, and he’s not at his best, they’ll be saying “he’s already left the club, his heart’s not in it.”
‘I think that can turn a bit nasty, so this idea of a parade – it’d be different if they were like Arsenal and they were top of the league, you’re going to win the league like last year, but I’m not sure about the timing. I don’t know why you don’t just wait until the end of the season and go “I’ve done my bit.”
‘Liverpool have a lot on their plate, don’t turn it into another circus act, like last year got a bit silly towards the end of the season, and it can turn the other way, fans can turn on him if he’s not at it.’
It would be hard to dislodge the affection Liverpool fans have for Salah after his immense goalscoring contributions and the fact he has helped them win two Premier League titles and a Champions League among other trophies.
But Alexander-Arnold discovered last year that even two decades of excellent service to the Merseyside club from boyhood does not guarantee you a fond farewell.
A section of Liverpool fans booed Alexander-Arnold at the first opportunity just days after he announced his exit last season.
Boos rang out at Anfield as he replaced Conor Bradley against Arsenal in May and supporters chanted in favour of the younger right-back.
One nightclub, Popworld, even claimed it had banned the Englishman, such was the feeling of betrayal at his exit among a portion of fans.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit from the club last season was marred by boos and toxicity
Many felt aggrieved that Alexander-Arnold appeared to be leaving for Real Madrid on a free transfer, though Liverpool did manage to secure a humble £10million fee from the Spaniards.
That situation was different to Salah’s due to Alexander-Arnold being from the city and also departing for Real Madrid, who have pinched beloved stars from the Reds in the past and beaten them to major European honours.
Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas has insisted that Salah has no firm destination at the moment.
The 33-year-old has long been circled by Saudi Arabian clubs, including Al-Ittihad, who made a £150million bid in the summer of 2023. Sides in the United States have also previously enquired. Given he will leave for nothing, staying in Europe cannot be ruled out either.
Salah, who is the third-highest scorer in Liverpool history with 255 goals, said: ‘Leaving is never easy. You gave me the best time of my life. I will always be one of you.
‘This club will always be my home to me and to my family. Thank you for everything. Because of all of you, I will never walk alone.’
He added: ‘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 in words to anyone not part of this club.
Salah’s situation is different because, at least at the moment, he is not leaving for a rival
‘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.
‘And to the fans, I don’t have enough words. The support you showed me through the best time of my career and you stood by me in the toughest times. It’s something I will never forget and something I will take with me always.’
Liverpool will draw up some possible replacements in the coming weeks, with work undoubtedly already started to complete the task, which is easier said than done.
