Mohamed Salah and Jurgen Klopp share same feeling after Liverpool exit decisions

Mohamed Salah has agreed to leave Liverpool at the end of the season after the Reds confirmed they reached an agreement with the Egyptian legend to conclude his Anfield career a year early

Jurgen Klopp celebrates with Mohamed Salah after Liverpool's Champions League final victory in Madrid in 2019(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool fans are probably still processing the revelation that Anfield icon Mohamed Salah is poised to leave the club when the season concludes.

Similar to Jurgen Klopp's announcement in January 2024 that he would be stepping aside after nine years at the helm, there's a distinct sense that this represents the end of an extraordinary era for the Reds.

Understandably, focus will now shift to where Salah lands next. Clubs across Saudi Arabia, the United States and Europe will certainly be queuing up to secure the services of the legendary winger, who will be a free agent after scoring a remarkable 255 goals for Liverpool thus far.

Nevertheless, supporters can perhaps take some comfort in knowing that Salah won't be lining up for a Premier League competitor or even one of their Champions League opponents. Much like Klopp before him, Salah has expressed that he couldn't envisage himself featuring against the Reds, with both the Egyptian and Liverpool's former boss sharing a profound connection with the club.

Salah told Sky Sports in 2021: "If you ask me, I would love to stay until the last day of my football career, but I can't say much about that — it's not in my hands. It depends on what the club want, not on me.

"At the moment, I can't see myself ever playing against Liverpool. That would make me sad. It's hard, I don't want to talk about it, but it would make me really sad. I don't see myself playing against Liverpool, but let's see what will happen in the future."

Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah feel the same way toward Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Klopp took the reins in October 2015. He brought Champions League success in 2019 before guiding Liverpool to its first top-flight title in three decades the following campaign.

During his time at the helm, he also won the FA Cup, two League Cups, the European Super Cup, the Community Shield and the Club World Cup. The iconic German coach made it clear he wouldn't manage another English side after stepping down in the summer of 2024.

He also kept the possibility of an Anfield return open. Speaking in 2024, he said: "What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 percent. That's not possible. My love for this club, my respect for the people, is too big.

"I couldn't. I couldn't for a second think about it. There's no chance. This is part of my life, we are part of the family, we feel at home here. There's no chance to do that."

When asked again last year whether he might one day return to Liverpool, Klopp said: "I said I will never coach a different team in England so that means, if [I did return], then it's Liverpool. So, yeah, theoretically it is possible."

Salah inked a two-year contract extension towards the end of last season. However, Liverpool announced on Tuesday evening that they had "reached an agreement" with the winger to wrap up his Anfield career a year early, accompanied by a heartfelt video message from Salah.

Following the bitter disappointment of Klopp's exit, many fans might be feeling a sense of deja vu with this latest development.

Indeed, the recent golden era at the Kop seems more and more like a bygone age with each departure. Nevertheless, the words of Salah and Klopp should offer reassurance to supporters that they will never have to see either of their idols playing against them.