By Samuel A. April 27, 2024
Mo Salah and Jurgen Klopp got into a heated argument on the touchline at London Stadium on Saturday afternoon. One source said “if I speak today there will be fire” after clashing with the gaffer on the touchline during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at West Ham.
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 turned to Salah on the touchline after a missed West Ham chance, and the pair exchanged words before Salah was pushed away by Joe Gomez and Darwin Nunez.
Klopp refused to divulge what had sparked the incident after the game, but added: “We spoke already in the dressing room. For me, that’s done.” Asked if Salah felt the issue was closed, Klopp said in his press conference: “That’s my impression, yes.”
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, picked up clearly by the TV cameras.
Liverpool ended the game in a two all draw, handing them a setback to their faltering title bid. They have now won just one of their last five Premier League matches. They sit four points behind second placed Man City, who have a game in hand, and five points behind leaders Arsenal.
“I’m not in the mood to talk about that to be honest or look at that at all,” Klopp said after the game. “We had to win here, we knew that, and we didn’t, and now we have a little bit more time between now and the next game. We try to get the boys ready again and we will go again.”
