Steven Gerrard says he was left "hurt" when he watched Liverpool lose to Aston Villa on Friday, with Arne Slot overseeing a 19th defeat of the campaign in all competitions

10:29, 17 May 2026

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.(Image: Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard says he was left "hurt" after watching the Reds crumble in the second half against Aston Villa on Friday, with Arne Slot's men losing for the 19th time this season.

Mohamed Salah posted a lengthy message on social media the following day outlining his thoughts on the Liverpool playing style ahead of his final match at Anfield next weekend.

And, after reacting to that statement, Gerrard went on to offer his own verdict on how Liverpool has been performing this season, with another three points required to guarantee a place in next year's Champions League.

READ MORE: 3 ways Liverpool can line up next season after Arne Slot's huge transfer claimREAD MORE: Liverpool transfer news and rumors today LIVE: Arne Slot future, Alonso confirmed, Diomande move

"Crumbling is a strong word," Gerrard said. "It's quite damning, the timing. It's unusual coming from Mo. The pressure's on the players and the pressure's on the manager because it's been nowhere near good enough.

"The performance (against Aston Villa) was terrible. It was awful, it was difficult to watch from start to finish, and it hurt me watching Liverpool last night. I don't normally say that.

"It was a tough 90 minutes and they got what they deserved. Villa were better all over the pitch.

Steven Gerrard and Mohamed Salah in an interview for TNT Sports.(Image: Getty Images)

"There was no fight, no passion, no pattern of play, no connection, they're not moving around the pitch together, individuals were miles off what I know they can perform at.

"It hurt me to watch Liverpool (against Aston Villa); they were nowhere near good enough. Let's finish on that note."

Earlier, Gerrard had offered his take on Salah coming out and writing a long statement, which most assumed was aimed at Slot, about whom he aimed much more direct accusations after being left on the bench at Elland Road in December.

"You guys know, you've been involved in the media: he very rarely speaks," Gerrard said.

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"He's done interviews lately because he's obviously bringing the curtain down on an incredible Liverpool career.

"But that is quite damning to the Liverpool manager and the staff in terms of where this team's at. That's my opinion on that.

"Is he speaking off his own back for the sake of everyone else in the dressing room? It's strange, it's unusual.

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"He's going to be doing a load of media around his last game, I'm sure. I'm really looking forward to the coming days because that's unusual for a Liverpool player, and it's unusual for Mo Salah."

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Xabi Alonso has spoken for the first time as Chelsea manager after the former Liverpool hero's appointment at Stamford Bridge was confirmed a day after its FA Cup final defeat

09:30, 17 May 2026Updated 09:40, 17 May 2026

Xabi Alonso is the new manager of Chelsea.(Image: Federico Titone/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has spoken for the first time after being confirmed as Chelsea's new manager, where he will take over officially on a four-year deal on July 1.

After Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior were both fired by Chelsea this season, the West London outfit was on the hunt for another new head coach. It has agreed to give Alonso more power than previous people to have held the role in order to convince him to take the next step of his coaching career in the Premier League.

"Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club," Alonso told club media after the appointment was made public.

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Matt AddisonREAD MORE: Liverpool transfer news and rumors today LIVE: Arne Slot future, Alonso confirmed, Diomande move

"From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies."

Chelsea finishes this season with matches against Tottenham and Sunderland. As things stand, it is ninth in the Premier League table, level on points with Everton.

Things did not go well for Alonso when he was in charge at Real Madrid. He was fired from that role in January, but was very successful with Bayer Leverkusen before that.

Xabi Alonso during his spell at Real Madrid.(Image: Ricardo Larreina/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Kylian Mbappe spoke earlier this week about Alonso not being at fault for what went wrong at the Bernabeu. Things have only further unraveled since his departure from the Spanish giant.

"We had a structure in our game, and we lost it — that hurts a lot," Mbappe told Spanish media after Real Madrid beat Real Oviedo on Thursday.

"I had a great relationship with Xabi Alonso. He is going to become a great coach, but that is now in the past. We have to look forward.

"We did not win titles and that hurts because we showed we were capable of much more. We all share responsibility and we have to change this."

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Mbappe was jeered by his own fans when he was brought on as a substitute against Real Oviedo on Thursday. He had been left out of the starting XI, but played it down at the final whistle.

"I haven't played because for the coach I've been the fourth striker in the squad behind Mastantuono, Vini and Gonzalo," Mbappe explained.

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"I was ready to start, but it's his (manager Arbeloa's) decision, and it always has to be respected.

"I have no problem at all with Arbeloa. You have to accept the coach's philosophy and I have to do better to play ahead of Vini, Gonzalo and Mastantuono."

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Liverpool fans have an affinity with Xabi Alonso but he is coming back to the Premier League with Chelsea this summer — as much as anything because his other choices are so limited

11:31, 13 May 2026Updated 09:20, 17 May 2026

Xabi Alonso during his spell at Real Madrid.(Image: Ricardo Larreina/Europa Press via Getty Images)

It is official: Xabi Alonso is returning to the Premier League. On July 1, he will take over as Chelsea manager on a four-year deal, and it is a curious decision.

When Alonso moved into coaching, he was in no rush. He had offers to leave Real Sociedad's B team long before he did, and then chose Bayer Leverkusen after careful consideration.

The ex-Liverpool midfielder did so well in Germany that he could have left earlier, but bided his time. He did a year longer in the Bundesliga than many imagined he would, and then chose Real Madrid.

That, of course, did not go to plan, but amid the chaos that is unfolding at the Bernabeu at the moment, there is context there. Most clubs will now disregard that period of his career and focus on the other bits.

READ MORE: 3 ways Liverpool can line up next season after Arne Slot's huge transfer claimREAD MORE: Liverpool transfer news and rumors today LIVE: Arne Slot future, Alonso confirmed, Diomande move

Alonso remains one of the most promising young coaches around. And yet, he has just made a surprise move this summer as he looks to get back behind the wheel.

In taking the Chelsea job, Alonso is taking a massive risk.

The Blueco model involves a lack of input in certain crucial elements of running the team, and the transfer model — including handing out eight and nine-year contracts — looks ill-advised to put it mildly.

"Let's say if you go to Madrid and you get the sack after six or eight months, then maybe you move to Chelsea, it's not going well, you get the sack again..." Bolo Zenden warned last week.

"Those are not just scratches. They are scars, and it might harm your managerial career."

Former Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso.(Image: Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

It is a fair point, and there would be a chance that going to Chelsea could backfire spectacularly, but there is a flip side too. Where else in Europe was Alonso going to go?

Having already won the league with Bayer Leverkusen, there would be little point in going to Bayern Munich. In any case, Vincent Kompany is not going anywhere right now.

In Spain, Alonso has already been at Real Madrid; it is therefore hard to see him going to either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid, and neither is on the hunt for a new manager anyway.

At PSG, there is no reason for Luis Enrique to move on. Given Serie A is not at the level that it once was and the Portuguese top division is some way behind, that leaves the Premier League as the obvious next destination.

If Liverpool isn't set to have an opening and Alonso isn't going to be in the running at Manchester United, who might just stick with Michael Carrick anyway, there are not loads of other options that remain.

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Pep Guardiola might leave Manchester City and Alonso has been touted as a candidate there, but Enzo Maresca appears to be the favorite.

Tottenham is unappealing and has just brought in Roberto De Zerbi, while Mikel Arteta is likely to still be at Arsenal. Quite simply, Chelsea was the only one left.

Does this move make it harder for Alonso to become Liverpool boss at some point down the line? It is difficult to say.

The likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho and others have worked for multiple big six clubs in recent years, though. Maresca, if Guardiola does leave, might become the latest this summer.

And with the Premier League now so much richer than every other league around Europe, having eaten up all the best players and the attention from elsewhere, it is a pattern that is likely to continue.

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Ultimately, Chelsea doesn't look to be a perfect fit for Alonso. It ended up, though, being the only one available to him.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold was among those to react to Mohamed Salah's explosive social media post that the Liverpool man wrote on Saturday, where he made his feelings clear

21:14, 16 May 2026

Trent Alexander-Arnold in action for Real Madrid.(Image: Federico Titone/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold was among those to react to Mohamed Salah's lengthy post on social media on Saturday, which called for a change of playing style at Anfield.

Salah's post was also liked on Instagram by teammates Dominik Szoboszlai, Andy Robertson, Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo and Milos Kerkez, in addition to Harvey Elliott, with many interpreting it as a dig at head coach Arne Slot. Results and performances at Liverpool lately have not been good enough, with three more points still required to qualify for the Champions League.

Midfielder Curtis Jones commented with a clapping emoji and later posted his own message to Liverpool fans, while Hugo Ekitike posted a handshake emoji to indicate his agreement with the sentiment that things have to improve.

READ MORE: Steven Gerrard voices 'damning' Liverpool theory after Mo Salah statement - 'Identity's gone'READ MORE: 9 Liverpool stars react to Mohamed Salah's scathing message to Arne Slot and teammates

"I have witnessed this club go from doubters to believers, and from believers to champions," Salah wrote.

"It took hard work and I always did everything I could to help the club get there. Nothing makes me prouder than that.

"Us crumbling to yet another defeat this season was very painful and not what our fans deserve. I want to see Liverpool go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear and back to being a team that wins trophies.

"That is the football I know how to play and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good. It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it.

Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah during a Liverpool training session.(Image: Nikki Dyer - Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"Winning some games here and there is not what Liverpool should be about. All teams win games.

"Liverpool will always be a club that means a great deal to me and to my family. I want to see it succeed for long after I have moved on.

"As I’ve always said, qualifying to next season’s Champions League is the bare minimum and I will do everything I can to make that happen."

Reds legend Steven Gerrard later responded to the message while he was appearing on TNT Sports' coverage of the FA Cup final.

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"Mo Salah doesn't really speak much, and he doesn't tweet, and he certainly doesn't tweet like that," Gerrard said.

"I think that he's sending a message to the outside that things in that Liverpool dressing room are not right: the identity's gone and it's really hurting him to see it in front of his own eyes.

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"I'm surprised of the timing. One game to go, his last game for Liverpool.

"You guys know, you've been involved in the media: he very rarely speaks, he's done interviews lately because he's obviously bringing the curtain down on an incredible Liverpool career.

"But that is quite damning to the Liverpool manager and the staff in terms of where this team's at. That's my opinion on that."

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Mohamed Salah will call time on his Liverpool career after the Reds' final-day clash with Wolves on Sunday, having issued a stinging criticism of the club's current playing styleMatt Addison Liverpool FC Reporter and Connor O'Neill Senior Sports Content Creator

19:47, 16 May 2026

Steven Gerrard talks on TNT Sports.(Image: Cameron Smith - The FA via Getty Images)

Steven Gerrard has described Mohamed Salah's lengthy social media post as "damning" while questioning whether the Egyptian is speaking solely for himself or voicing the concerns of the wider Liverpool dressing room.

In his post, Salah called for Liverpool to return to being a "heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear" following its "crumbling" defeat to Aston Villa on Friday night.

The forward has never shied away from expressing his views, and Liverpool clinched the Premier League title last season under Slot, who succeeded the high-energy Jurgen Klopp. The forward's scathing critique of the Reds' current style of play has widely been interpreted as a thinly veiled dig at the under-pressure head coach.

READ MORE: 9 Liverpool stars react to Mohamed Salah's scathing message to Arne Slot and teammatesREAD MORE: Jamie Carragher identifies when Liverpool's problems started with brutal Arne Slot verdict

Gerrard believes the 33-year-old, who will bring his Anfield career to a close at the end of the season, has signaled to the wider world that all is not well within the Liverpool camp.

"Wow. Listen, that is extremely interesting," he told TNT Sports. "Mo Salah doesn't really speak much, and he doesn't tweet, and he certainly doesn't tweet like that.

"So I think that he's sending a message to the outside that things in that Liverpool dressing room are not right: the identity's gone and it's really hurting him to see it in front of his own eyes.

"I'm surprised of the timing. One game to go, his last game for Liverpool.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

"You guys know, you've been involved in the media: he very rarely speaks, he's done interviews lately because he's obviously bringing the curtain down on an incredible Liverpool career.

"But that is quite damning to the Liverpool manager and the staff in terms of where this team's at. That's my opinion on that.

"Is he speaking off his own back for the sake of everyone else in the dressing room? It's strange, it's unusual.

"He's going to be doing a load of media around his last game, I'm sure. I'm really looking forward to the coming days because that's unusual for a Liverpool player, and it's unusual for Mo Salah."

Liverpool's defeat against Unai Emery's side at Villa Park marked Liverpool's 19th defeat across all competitions this season, leaving its Champions League qualification in the balance.

Gerrard acknowledged the painful nature of how comprehensively the Reds were outplayed in the Midlands.

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"Crumbling is a strong word," he added. "It's quite damning, the timing. It's unusual coming from Mo. The pressure's on the players and the pressure's on the manager because it's been nowhere near good enough.

"The performance last night was terrible, it was awful, it was difficult to watch from start to finish, and it hurt me watching Liverpool last night. I don't normally say that.

"It was a tough 90 minutes and they got what they deserved. Villa were better all over the pitch.

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"There was no fight, no passion, no pattern of play, no connection, they're not moving around the pitch together, individuals were miles off what I know they can perform at. It hurt me to watch Liverpool last night; they were nowhere near good enough. Let's finish on that note."

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Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool and Spain midfielder, is reportedly set to be imminently announced as the permanent replacement for Liam Rosenior at Stamford Bridge

19:02, 16 May 2026

Xabi Alonso during his time at Real Madrid.(Image: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)

Former Liverpool and Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso appears to be on the verge of becoming Chelsea's latest head coach, with a four-year deal said to be in place for him to move to Stamford Bridge.

Alonso is widely reported to be on the brink of replacing Liam Rosenior in West London, with Chelsea having also employed Enzo Maresca this season. The Italian was let go amid speculation that he could take over from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, the team that beat Chelsea in today's FA Cup final.

According to The Athletic, the agreement between Chelsea and Alonso is fully complete. It is suggested by RMC Sport that the 44-year-old will have a greater say on transfers than previous people to hold the position.

READ MORE: 9 Liverpool stars react to Mohamed Salah's scathing message to Arne Slot and teammatesREAD MORE: Liverpool transfer news and rumors today LIVE: Salah statement, Arne Slot future, Alonso agreement

Alonso has been out of work since he was fired by Real Madrid earlier this calendar year. He previously won the Bundesliga at Bayer Leverkusen, ending a long wait for a league title.

As one of the game's most highly rated young coaches, the Premier League was the obvious next step. Chelsea is one of few options realistically available to him, given he would not have been interested in moving to Manchester United.

Arne Slot, meanwhile, said on Thursday that he would be in charge next season at Liverpool. Plenty of Reds fans have put forward the possibility of the Spaniard taking over after a difficult campaign.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

"I don't think I am deciding that alone by myself but I have every reason to believe I am the Liverpool manager next season," Slot said before the 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa.

"First of all, I am contracted to this club and second of all from all the talks we are having. That is my take on it.

"If you don't have the best season, especially if you compare with last season — if you compare it with other seasons you might have a different debate, but if you compare it with last season — this has definitely not been a great season, then it is also normal that criticism comes.

"We have all had our share, and with all I mean the players have had their share, the manager has had their share and other people in the club have had their share. That is how things work nowadays if you don't win the league."

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Liverpool concludes this season with a home game against Brentford next Sunday. It needs to win that match to be guaranteed of a place in the Champions League next term.

Liverpool.com says: Alonso is taking a big risk by going to Chelsea. It is a club that has been very unstable and is hardly the calm environment in which he has thrived in the past.

At the same time, though, he doesn't have many options available to him. Having managed in Germany and Spain already, the Premier League is the obvious next step.

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