Steven Gerrard breaks silence on fired speculation as Al-Ettifaq ...

Steven Gerrard has reacted following his Al-Ettifaq team's exit from the King Cup of Champions at the hands of Al-Jabalain.

Early in the clash, Leo Lacroix scored for Al-Jabalain, with Vitinho netting a penalty to even the score for Gerrard's players. However, subsequent goals by Kaka Mendes and Saad Al-Selouli saw Al-Ettifaq knocked out.

Gerrard’s side's form has been less than stellar, with just three wins in its last nine matches - its most recent league triumph being against Al-Fateh on September 14. Liverpool legend Gerrard is currently facing scrutiny from some Saudi Arabian commentators who suggest he should leave Al-Ettifaq over the disappointing results.

However, other reports in the region mention his seemingly secure position in Saudi football circles. While questions about his future mount due to Al-Ettifaq’s downturn and a shocking King's Cup defeat, there are whispers that his role might actually be firmer than it appears.

The notable 'All About SPL' platform weighed in, downplaying the speculation around Gerrard's job security in a tweet underscoring his influence in Saudi Arabia: "Steven Gerrard in the Saudi League is an untouchable person! It is not because he is Al-Ettifaq's manager but because he is working to make the Saudi League project a success, where he is helping all Saudi League clubs to develop their infrastructure."

Following Al-Ettifaq's latest setback, Gerrard remained resolute, praising the victors and revealing details about why ex-Celtic star Moussa Dembele wasn't on the pitch. "I congratulate Al Jabalain," he remarked. "The team was excellent and deserved to qualify. The Al Jabalain team was the best in everything on the field. Our team did not show up. This was not the proper performance for the match.

"Al-Ettifaq did not show up today as we wanted. Al-Jabalain had the passion and deserved to qualify. The plan was for Dembele to start, but he wasn't fully fit for this match. Because of the pressure of the matches, I tried to rest some names, but the other team actually deserved it. Everyone was fully fit."