Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq lose AGAIN as pressure increases on the Liverpool legend – with his side lingering in the bottom half of the Saudi Pro League

Steven Gerrard‘s role as the manager of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq continues to come under pressure following his latest defeat.

The Liverpool legend took charge of the club 16 months ago and he is said to be earning £15.2million per year in Dammam, while living over the border in Bahrain.

His side finished sixth in the 18-team Saudi Pro League last season but are currently ranked 11th after 10 rounds of fixtures in the 2024-25 edition, winning just three of their matches.

On Friday, they went down 3-1 to Al-Hilal, with Aleksandar Mitrovic and Malcolm both scoring for the home side. Victor Vinicius Coelho dos Santos gave Gerrard’s side hope in stoppage time, but Mohammed Al-Qahtani added a third shortly after.

Abdullah Radif was then sent off for Gerrard’s men, piling more misery on the former midfielder.

Gerrard’s side lost 3-1 against Al-Hilal and sit 11th in the league table out of 18 teams

Fellow former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is one of the players struggling under Gerrard

After losing to Al-Qadsiah last week, Gerrard was booed by a significant section of the home fanbase, who urged him to ‘get out’.

They did follow that up with a 1-0 win over Al Qadsia in the GCC Champions League in midweek, but it was back to the poor form of the league on Friday.

They have also already lost in the King Cup, while they have not win in the league since mid-September, when they beat Al-Fateh 2-1.

Speaking after Friday’s defeat, Gerrard, who has faced accusations that he schedules training sessions around Liverpool games, said: ‘I spoke to the players. If we had performed like this before, we would not have put ourselves in this embarrassing situation, but I bear the responsibility.

‘We conceded the first goal from a set piece. Previously, we used to defend better from set pieces. The second goal was scored by a young player, and he made the same mistake he made against Al-Fayha. The player is young, and I bear responsibility for the second goal.

‘I bear full responsibility for using a young player in defence, as he has little experience. His recruitment was to prepare him for development and the future, and using him was not appropriate, but due to injuries, we were put in this position.’ 

Having faced calls to resign before last week’s game, he had vowed to fight on, saying: ‘On the back of recent results in my position you are always aware of disappointment from fans, I have to take that responsibility on my shoulders. That is what I will do and continue to fight and work to improve the recent results.

‘I don’t react, change or get over-concerned about social media or anyone on the outside of Ettifaq’s opinion, my priority is this club. I listen to the people within and continue to support my players.’

Gerrard was booed by a significant section of the home fanbase, who urged him to ‘get out’

Former Fulham and Newcastle forward Aleksandar Mitrovic scored the first goal of the game on Friday

According to Al-Youm via Goal, officials at Al-Ettifaq are considering sacking Gerrard amid the team’s poor run of form.

A decision was reportedly set to be expected to be made at the end of this week, and could be hurried along following yet another defeat for the club.

Starting for Gerrard’s team in the game were former Premier League stars Marek Rodak, Georginio Wijnaldum and Moussa Dembele, who are all struggling to perform under the 44-year-old.