What did Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah say about their touchline argument?

Liverpool head coach Jürgen Klopp has sought to play down a heated touchline argument with Mohamed Salah seconds before the Egyptian took to the field in Saturday 2-2 draw against West Ham.

Salah left on the bench for crucial Premier League fixture

With The Reds desperate for a victory to keep their dwindling Premier League title hopes alive, Klopp made the surprising decision to leave Salah on the bench for the fixture at London Stadium. The former Roma forward had already been a substitute in the win against Fulham six days earlier before returning the starting lineup for the derby defeat to Everton on Wednesday.

There was no sign of Salah suffering an injury, with the German seemingly dropping the player to the bench because of an ineffective performance in midweek. The 31-year-old didn’t look best pleased in the warm-up before the game and his mood improved little up until he was picked to come on for Luis Díaz with just over 10 minutes remaining.

What happened between Salah and Klopp?

As he was waiting to take to the field, Klopp walked over to say something to Salah, who immediately began gesturing angrily with his arms out, talking back at his coach as he backed away. Fellow substitute Darwin Núñez intervened in an effort to calm his teammate down, with Salah shaking the Uruguayan off with his arm.

The Egypt international came on for the final 11 minutes and injury time but couldn’t provide a winning goal for his team, who have three matches left to play and are now two points behind leaders Arsenal, who have a game in hand, and one adrift of Manchester City, who have played two matches fewer.

Klopp and Salah argument “done”

Speaking to UK broadcaster TNT Sports after the game, Klopp kept his cards close to his chest when asked about the incident, briefly claiming it had already been dealt with.

“No, I can’t say what was said, but we spoke about it already in the dressing room. It’s done.”

Salah: “There’s going to be fire if I speak”

Salah, by contrast, appeared to add further fuel to the flames as he walked through the mixed zone following the game at London Stadium. The winger didn’t stop to speak to journalist but instead uttered the cryptic phrase, “there’s going to be fire today if I speak”, thickening the plot further.

Will Salah follow Klopp in leaving Liverpool this summer?

Klopp will, of course, be leaving Liverpool at the end of a season in which four trophies had looked a realistic possibility. However, it now looks as if the Carabao Cup will be the only title they win.

Since moving to Liverpool in 2017, Salah has scored 210 goals in 345 matches in all competitions, including 154 in 246 games in the Premier League.

He has, however, been heavily linked with a move away to the Saudi Pro League at the end of the season, when he will have one year left on his contract.

With Xabi Alonso confirming his intention to remain with Bayer Levekusen, Feyenoord manager Arne Slot is the man now expected to replace Klopp in the Anfield dugout for the 2024/25 season.