Featured Image Credit: Getty/X@Ettifaq_EN
Topics: Liverpool, Steven Gerrard, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League, Football
Marcus Chan
Topics: Liverpool, Steven Gerrard, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League, Football
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has been caught up in a bizarre Saudi Professional League social media spat.
Since retiring in 2016, Gerrard has stepped into the world of management and has been in charge of clubs like Rangers and Aston Villa.
Last summer, the former Liverpool captain was lured to the Middle East by Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq, he then signed former Reds midfielders Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum during the transfer window.
Recently, Gerrard was the subject of a social media jibe by Al Ettifaq’s local rivals, Al Qadsiah.
Both teams are based in the Greater Dammam area of Saudi Arabia and after Al Qadsiah, who are backed by Saudi Arabian Oil Group Aramc, secured promotion back to the Saudi Professional League, Al Ettifaq took to social media and wrote: “We welcome you back to the top flight for the sixth time.”
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Al Qadsiah are known as the yo-yo club of Saudi Arabian football but after heavy investment by the Saudi Ministry of Sports back in 2023, they are looking to shrug off that tag.
In response to Al Ettifaq’s tweet, Al Qadsiah decided to take aim at Gerrard by posting his costly slip during Liverpool’s Premier League clash against Chelsea back in 2014, which ultimately played a part in the Reds losing the title to Manchester City.
Accompanying the video, Al Qadsiah also wrote: “Sometimes the spotlight is slippery”.
Under Gerrard, Al Ettifaq are currently in eighth place in the Saudi Professional League and have only recorded one win in their last seven matches.
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Speaking after their defeat by Al Feiha, Gerrard said: “We were bad individually and collectively. We conceded two easy goals.
“I did not like the mentality or the character shown by the players.”
He continued: “(Fashion) Sakala was dangerous and that is what we lack in our team.”
Al Ettifaq will be back in Saudi Professional League action on Friday night when they take on Al Ittihad.