Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reacted to their widely publicised clash with Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah on Saturday, insisting it’s buried.
The Reds drew 2-2 against West Ham fresh from a loss to Everton and the clash has caused more cracks in their English Premier League title chase.
In his reaction, the outgoing Klopp said he has addressed the issue in the dressing room and is not interested in talking about it. On the other hand, Salah suggested that if he could open his mouth on the matter, ‘there will be fire’.
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The incident occurred while Salah, who had been dropped from the starting XI following a much-criticised performance in Wednesday’s Merseyside derby, was waiting to come on with 11 minutes remaining at The London Stadium.
Klopp on the Beef With Salah as Liverpool Draws
The German manager, Klopp turned to Salah on the touchline after a missed West Ham chance, and the two were spotted exchanging words before the striker was pushed away by Joe Gomez and Darwin Nunez. “If I speak today there will be fire,” Salah told reporters as he walked through the post-match mixed zone declining interview per Sky Sports.
Afterwards, Klopp refused to divulge what had sparked the incident but added: “We spoke already in the dressing room. For me, that’s done.” Salah refused to comment after the touchline dispute with Klopp but the manager said he felt the issue was closed, “That’s my impression, yes.”
According to the report, wide-angled footage showed Salah approaching the touchline with Nunez and Gomez to be subbed on, with Klopp reaching out to shake Salah’s hand. The Egyptian was not immediately forthcoming but shook Klopp’s hand before an exchange of words.
Klopp then hugged both Nunez and Gomez, before West Ham missed an opportunity, and Klopp clashed with Salah again, an incident that was picked up clearly by the TV cameras.
Liverpool Manager on Salah Clash
After the encounter, the former Borussia Dortmund boss added that he is not keen to speak about the issue. “I’m not in the mood to talk about that, to be honest, or look at that at all,” Klopp told TNT.
“We had to win here, we knew that, and we didn’t, and now we have a little bit more time between and the next game. We try to get the boys ready again and we will go again.”
Meanwhile, Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp believes the Egyptian’s time at Liverpool is coming to an end.
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“It felt a little bit uncharacteristic for both of them. Jurgen Klopp doesn’t tend to fall out with his own players, Mohamed Salah’s frustrated because he’s not starting the game and there were a few choice words between them. You can’t dress it up – he wants to play,” said Redknapp.
“I don’t like to see it, but it happens. With Liverpool throwing points away at the moment these things do happen. There haven’t been too many incidents with Salah. He’s been an incredible servant for the club. I do believe his time is coming to an end. I think in the summer, with his contract running down, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was to leave. He just wants to play, but you don’t like to see a manager and a player falling out.”
After the draw, the Anfield-based side now sits a point behind second-placed Man City, who have two games in hand, and two points behind leaders Arsenal, who have one game in hand.