New footage shot from the stands at the London Stadium has painted a clearer picture of Mohamed Salah’s falling-out with Jurgen Klopp on Saturday. The Liverpool manager and his star forward both refused to shed light on the altercation after the draw at West Ham, which effectively ended their Premier League title hopes.
TNT Sports cameras panned to Klopp and Salah when a row erupted in the final 10 minutes of Saturday’s lunchtime contest. Salah was waiting to come on as a late substitute after controversially being left out of the starting XI.
Nothing less than a win was needed for Liverpool to maintain their title charge after Wednesday night’s defeat at Everton. But they stumbled to a 2-2 draw, with goals from West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio narrowing the title race down to Arsenal and Manchester City.
On the touchline bust-up, Klopp said in his post-match interview that he and Salah had spoken in the dressing room and the matter was ‘done’ as far as he was concerned.
Watch all the Premier League and Champions League drama unfold on TNT Sports
Salah then reignited speculation by walking through the mixed zone and telling reporters: “If I speak today there will be fire.” Now, a video posted to social media has shown the incident in a new light, and a frosty handshake could well be what sent things spiralling downwards.
When Klopp called Salah over from the bench to take his spot on the touchline, ready for the fourth official to hold his shirt number aloft, he got a delayed and minimal response from the Egyptian when offering a handshake.
Salah then shrugged his shoulders when Klopp seemingly asked why he wasn’t given his usual, warm pre-substitution greeting. At this point the pair appeared to exchange angry words for the first time, before Klopp turned to fellow subs Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez for a hug and a handshake, and carried on watching the game.
TV cameras captured the remainder of the altercation, when Klopp walked over to make a comment which incensed Salah, who had to be held back by Nunez, around 40 seconds after their initial frosty handshake.
Salah then moved several yards down the touchline to be as far away from Klopp as possible, with Gomez and Nunez standing in-between the pair. His eventual introduction couldn’t inspire the turnaround Liverpool needed, and Salah stormed straight down the tunnel at full-time.
After a hectic month, the Reds now have a full week to cool off and recover before they host Tottenham at Anfield next Sunday afternoon.
