Klopp says Salah spat a ´non-story´, does not expect forward to push for move

Jurgen Klopp says his bust-up with Mohamed Salah has been resolved and does not believe the Liverpool forward will push to follow him through the exit door at the end of the season.

Klopp and Salah became embroiled in a heated confrontation on the sidelines during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with West Ham last week, as the out-of-form Egyptian waited to come on as a substitute.

The Reds boss played down the incident in his post-match press conference but Salah did the opposite in the mixed zone, telling reporters: “If I speak, there will be fire.”

However, Klopp reiterated on Friday that he considers the matter closed, saying: “It is completely resolved. It is no problem.

“If we didn’t know each other for that long I don’t know how we would deal with it, but we’ve known each other for that long and we respect each other.

“I think we have the right to deal with these things completely independent of any expectations from the outside. It is a non-story. In general, everyone is in the best possible place.

“If we win the games and score loads of goals, then the situation would not have been exactly like that because Mo would not have been on the bench in the first place.”

Boss pic.twitter.com/jW8QqIln9O

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 2, 2024

Last week’s incident led to renewed speculation regarding Salah’s future at Anfield, with the Egyptian preparing to enter the final 12 months of his contract with the Reds.

Salah, who was the subject of a £150million bid from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad last year, has scored 17 Premier League goals this season but only three of those have come since New Year’s Day.

Before going to the Africa Cup of Nations – where he suffered a hamstring injury – Salah boasted a shot conversion rate of 21.54 per cent in the Premier League for 2023-24, netting with 14 of his 65 attempts. Since returning, he has only converted three of 35 (8.57 per cent).

While Salah’s long-term future is none of Klopp’s concern, he does not see any signs of the Egypt star pushing for a move.

“You all have to get used to the fact that is not my subject,” Klopp added. “Mo, as a player, is incredible and I don’t think I should speak about that. Other people will decide that, especially Mo.

“I don’t have any signs it will be like that. I just try to prepare the basis for the future.”

Liverpool host Tottenham on Sunday, with the Premier League title now surely beyond them as they trail Arsenal by five points and Manchester City – who have a game in hand – by four.