‘That’s how it is’: Mo Salah absolutely ‘hates’ one thing Liverpool boss Klopp does at times

Shamanth Jayaram

Sat 16 April 2022 11:15, UK

klopp salah — Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Mohamed Salah hates it when he doesn’t start or is substituted in games.

The Egyptian has been going through a rough spell over the last two months. He just hasn’t looked like his previous self, but his numbers are still absolutely incredible thanks to his fantastic form in the first half of the season.

Klopp has been reluctant to overuse Salah since his trip to Cameroon for AFCON. The Egyptian had to play a number of 120-minute games during that period, which is not easy at all, even for someone in phenomenal shape like he is.

The Liverpool boss was asked about not starting Salah against Benfica and potentially subbing him off in the upcoming games. Klopp revealed that Salah absolutely hates it when that happens.

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Jurgen Klopp: Mo Salah hates it when I don’t play him

The Reds boss said, as per : “The reason for Mo not starting is easy. Yes, he played City but we have after that hopefully 12 games, so that’s why – when we have the opportunity to change. So that’s all.

“Even if Mo would have scored four goals in the last game, he wouldn’t have started yesterday. That’s how it is. Nothing to do with anything. There’s no story to make of it. It’s just the necessity.

“Mo played in January and February six times 120 minutes, so now we can just close our eyes and say, ‘Who cares?’

“Even he is just a human being and that’s why it was clear there will be games where he cannot start, there will be games where we take him off – he hates that, that’s clear.”

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It’s no surprise that Salah hates it when he’s not on the pitch. No footballer likes to sit and watch the game from the bench, but sometimes, the manager has to make that decision irrespective of the player’s feelings.

Klopp is absolutely right to manage Salah’s game time as he sees fit. There have been times when the Egyptian has looked tired over the last two months, which is not ideal at all for Liverpool as they aim to push Manchester City to the limits to get their hands on the Premier League title.

The immediate focus, however, is on the FA Cup game this evening. Salah is expected to start against the Citizens at Wembley today and Liverpool fans will be hoping that he can find his form again.

If he does, Liverpool should come away with a positive result.