Jurgen Klopp insists Salah did NOT refuse to come off

‘I wanted to talk to Mo because his role changed’: Jurgen Klopp insists Salah did NOT refuse to come off during substitution mix-up at Anfield – as Liverpool boss reveals he instead moved star into the No 10 position behind Darwin Nunez against Man City

  • Liverpool beat Manchester City 1-0 in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon
  • Mo Salah scored the only goal of the game midway through the second half
  • There was a moment of confusion when Salah thought he’d been substituted
  • The official had put the wrong number up on the board and he stayed on

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has dismissed the suggestion that Mo Salah refused to be substituted during the second half of Sunday’s win over Manchester City.

Klopp decided to make a triple change midway through the half and there was a moment of confusion after Salah’s number went up on the board.

Salah was then seen in deep conversation with Klopp as the number was changed to that of Harvey Elliot, who made way for Fabio Carvalho.

Jurgen Klopp has dismissed the suggestion that Mo Salah refused to be substituted

A journalist asked Klopp after the game if Salah had talked him out of a substituion but the Reds manager insisted it was simply as mistake from the official.

‘I really find this question interesting. Tell me your thoughts about that,’ said Klopp. ‘You think we put the 11 up so Mo has to get subbed but comes to me and says he doesn’t want to leave the pitch?

‘How could that happen? What is the logical explanation for that? Yes, wrong number on the plate.

‘I wanted to talk to Mo because his role changed. Darwin came on and Mo played 10 around Darwin and Darwin was running in behind. Mo was disappointed because he saw the number but I didn’t know about the 11 on the board. When I saw that, we could change it.’

Salah’s number was mistakenly shown on the board before it was changed to the correct one 

Klopp lauded Salah, whose performance was brilliant, saying: ‘Mo played an exceptional game, absolutely outstanding. One of two strikers in the centre, today with Bobby, great. Top performance, the goal was world class.

‘One of your colleagues asked if I thought we were lucky in the moment because Cancelo missed the ball. I didn’t see a player miss the ball, I saw a player using his body extremely well and beating the goalie in a one-on-one situation. Top class goal.

‘The situation before, really unlucky he didn’t score already. Apart from that, good on the ball, constant threat in behind. Working extremely hard. Outstanding performance, it was really good.’


Share this article

Source: Read Full Article