On Saturday, Liverpool’s renowned goalscorer Mohamed Salah and his manager Jurgen Klopp found themselves embroiled in an unsightly confrontation on the sidelines, adding to the Reds’ woes as they slipped further behind in the Premier League title race.
During the final moments of the 2-2 draw at the London Stadium against West Ham, the Egyptian striker seemed to direct some pointed remarks towards his coach as he readied himself to enter the pitch as part of a triple substitution.
The forward, who has scored 210 goals, had to be escorted from the confrontation by his teammate Darwin Nunez.
Salah later warned that there would be serious consequences if he spoke to the press about the incident, using the word “FIRE” to emphasise the severity of the situation.
Klopp, for his part, emphasised that the situation had been addressed internally within the dressing room and aimed to swiftly move forward.
Liverpool’s season is crumbling right as Klopp’s tenure nears its end, adding unwanted complications to the club’s situation.
The priority should have been granting the manager a dignified farewell, but instead, the team’s performance is lacking, and tensions between Klopp and arguably his greatest-ever player are evident.
It’s been a forgettable month for Anfield, especially for Salah, who has faced criticism for his performance since recovering from a hamstring injury sustained at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mohamed Aboutrika, a revered figure in Egyptian football, provided analysis in the beIN SPORTS studio on the West Ham game, expressing his belief that Salah was wrong and urged the 31-year-old to offer an apology.
“Sometimes when [big players] make a mistake, you have to apologise and not be arrogant about it,” Aboutrika said.
“Salah’s statements after the match were wrong. Don’t let the relationship between you and your coach reach a dead end. Klopp is leaving after three or four matches, and the relationship between you and him is eight years old.
“You have grown up together, so don’t let the last impression of you with Klopp be that you are fighting with him.
“Always remain calm, and if you make a mistake, say: ‘I’m sorry’, rather than being arrogant. And don’t listen to the English media which is always looking for drama.
“Big players admit a mistake and correct it. Go to your coach and tell him, “I am sorry.”
Aboutrika, who teamed up with Salah for Egypt during the 2012 Olympic Games, is commonly esteemed, alongside Salah, as one of the most exceptional players in Egyptian football history.
In other Liverpool news, Liverpool in Battle with PL Rivals for £52m Star with 10-G/A This Season